Time-symmetric boundary conditions and quantum foundations

Details Time-symmetric boundary conditions and quantum foundations Time-symmetric boundary conditions and quantum foundations

2010-03-22

arxiv.org/abs/1003.4273v2

Symmetry v2, 272-283; 2010

Physics

Quantum Physics

16 pages. With 0906.5409, companion paper to pirsa.org/09060031. v2: Minor edit, updates to references

Scientific paper

10.3390/sym2010272

Despite the widely-held premise that initial boundary conditions (BCs) corresponding to measurements/interactions can fully specify a physical subsystem, a literal reading of Hamilton's principle would imply that both initial and final BCs are required (or more generally, a BC on a closed hypersurface in spacetime). Such a time-symmetric perspective of BCs, as applied to classical fields, leads to interesting parallels with quantum theory. This paper will map out some of the consequences of this counter-intuitive premise, as applied to covariant classical fields. The most notable result is the contextuality of fields constrained in this manner, naturally bypassing the usual arguments against so-called "realistic" interpretations of quantum phenomena.

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