No Arabic abstract
We identify points of difference between Invariant Set Theory and standard quantum theory, and evaluate if these would lead to noticeable differences in predictions between the two theories. From this evaluation, we design a number of experiments, which, if undertaken, would allow us to investigate whether standard quantum theory or invariant set theory best describes reality.
Invariant Set Theory (IST) is a realistic, locally causal theory of fundamental physics which assumes a much stronger synergy between cosmology and quantum physics than exists in contemporary theory. In IST the (quasi-cyclic) universe $U$ is treated as a deterministic dynamical system evolving precisely on a measure-zero fractal invariant subset $I_U$ of its state space. In this approach, the geometry of $I_U$, and not a set of differential evolution equations in space-time $mathcal M_U$, provides the most primitive description of the laws of physics. As such, IST is non-classical. The geometry of $I_U$ is based on Cantor sets of space-time trajectories in state space, homeomorphic to the algebraic set of $p$-adic integers, for large but finite $p$. In IST, the non-commutativity of position and momentum observables arises from number theory - in particular the non-commensurateness of $phi$ and $cos phi$. The complex Hilbert Space and the relativistic Dirac Equation respectively are shown to describe $I_U$, and evolution on $I_U$, in the singular limit of IST at $p=infty$; particle properties such as de Broglie relationships arise from the helical geometry of trajectories on $I_U$ in the neighbourhood of $mathcal M_U$. With the p-adic metric as a fundamental measure of distance on $I_U$, certain key perturbations which seem conspiratorially small relative to the more traditional Euclidean metric, take points away from $I_U$ and are therefore unphysically large. This allows (the $psi$-epistemic) IST to evade the Bell and Pusey et al theorems without fine tuning or other objections. In IST, the problem of quantum gravity becomes one of combining the pseudo-Riemannian metric of $mathcal M_U$ with the p-adic metric of $I_U$. A generalisation of the field equations of general relativity which can achieve this is proposed.
Invariant Set (IS) theory is a locally causal ontic theory of physics based on the Cosmological Invariant Set postulate that the universe $U$ can be considered a deterministic dynamical system evolving precisely on a (suitably constructed) fractal dynamically invariant set in $U$s state space. IS theory violates the Bell inequalities by violating Measurement Independence. Despite this, IS theory is not fine tuned, is not conspiratorial, does not constrain experimenter free will and does not invoke retrocausality. The reasons behind these claims are discussed in this paper. These arise from properties not found in conventional ontic models: the invariant set has zero measure in its Euclidean embedding space, has Cantor Set structure homeomorphic to the p-adic integers ($p ggg 0$) and is non-computable. In particular, it is shown that the p-adic metric encapulates the physics of the Cosmological Invariant Set postulate, and provides the technical means to demonstrate no fine tuning or conspiracy. Quantum theory can be viewed as the singular limit of IS theory when when $p$ is set equal to infinity. Since it is based around a top-down constraint from cosmology, IS theory suggests that gravitational and quantum physics will be unified by a gravitational theory of the quantum, rather than a quantum theory of gravity. Some implications arising from such a perspective are discussed.
Erik Verlindes theory of entropic gravity [arXiv:1001.0785], postulating that gravity is not a fundamental force but rather emerges thermodynamically, has garnered much attention as a possible resolution to the quantum gravity problem. Some have ruled this theory out on grounds that entropic forces are by nature noisy and entropic gravity would therefore display far more decoherence than is observed in ultra-cold neutron experiments. We address this criticism by modeling linear gravity acting on small objects as an open quantum system. In the strong coupling limit, when the models unitless free parameter $sigma$ goes to infinity, the entropic master equation recovers conservative gravity. We show that the proposed master equation is fully compatible with the textit{q}textsc{Bounce} experiment for ultra-cold neutrons as long as $sigmagtrsim 250$ at $90%$ confidence. Furthermore, the entropic master equation predicts energy increase and decoherence on long time scales and for large masses, phenomena which tabletop experiments could test. In addition, comparing entropic gravitys energy increase to that of the Di{o}si-Penrose model for gravity induced decoherence indicates that the two theories are incompatible. These findings support the theory of entropic gravity, motivating future experimental and theoretical research.
Quantum mechanics is an extremely successful theory that agrees with every experiment. However, the principle of linear superposition, a central tenet of the theory, apparently contradicts a commonplace observation: macroscopic objects are never found in a linear superposition of position states. Moreover, the theory does not really explain as to why during a quantum measurement, deterministic evolution is replaced by probabilistic evolution, whose random outcomes obey the Born probability rule. In this article we review an experimentally falsifiable phenomenological proposal, known as Continuous Spontaneous Collapse: a stochastic non-linear modification of the Schr{o}dinger equation, which resolves these problems, while giving the same experimental results as quantum theory in the microscopic regime. Two underlying theories for this phenomenology are reviewed: Trace Dynamics, and gravity induced collapse. As one approaches the macroscopic scale, the predictions of this proposal begin to differ appreciably from those of quantum theory, and are being confronted by ongoing laboratory experiments that include molecular interferometry and optomechanics. These experiments, which essentially test the validity of linear superposition for large systems, are reviewed here, and their technical challenges, current results, and future prospects summarized. We conclude that it is likely that over the next two decades or so, these experiments can verify or rule out the proposed stochastic modification of quantum theory.
Bell inequalities are mathematical constructs that demarcate the boundary between quantum and classical physics. A new class of multiplicative Bell inequalities originating from a volume maximization game (based on products of correlators within bipartite systems) has been recently proposed. For these new Bell parameters, it is relatively easy to find the classical and quantum, i.e. Tsirelson, limits. Here, we experimentally test the Tsirelson bounds of these inequalities using polarisation-entangled photons for different number of measurements ($n$), each party can perform. For $n=2, 3, 4$, we report the experimental violation of local hidden variable theories. In addition, we experimentally compare the results with the parameters obtained from a fully deterministic strategy, and observe the conjectured nature of the ratio. Finally, utilizing the principle of relativistic independence encapsulating the locality of uncertainty relations, we theoretically derive and experimentally test new richer bounds for both the multiplicative and the additive Bell parameters for $n=2$. Our findings strengthen the correspondence between local and nonlocal correlations, and may pave the way for empirical tests of quantum mechanical bounds with inefficient detection systems.