The Counterfactual Meaning of the ABL Rule

Details The Counterfactual Meaning of the ABL Rule The Counterfactual Meaning of the ABL Rule

2003-07-10

arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0307082v2

Proc. of QTRF-2 meeting (Vaxjo University Press, Vaxjo, Sweden, 2004), pp. 403-412

Physics

Quantum Physics

Published version, one reference added

Scientific paper

The Aharonov-Bergmann-Lebowitz rule assigns probabilities to quantum measurement results at time t on the condition that the system is prepared in a given way at t_1 < t and found in a given state at t_2 > t. The question whether the rule can also be applied counterfactually to the case where no measurement is performed at the intermediate time t has recently been the subject of controversy. I argue that the counterfactual meaning may be understood in terms of the true value of an observable at t. Such a value cannot be empirically determined for, by stipulation, the measurement that would yield it is not performed. Nevertheless, it may or may not be well-defined depending on one's proposed interpretation of quantum mechanics. Various examples are discussed illustrating what can be asserted at the intermediate time without running into contradictions.

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