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Can the statistical postulate of quantum theory be derived?—A critique of the many-universes interpretation

  • Published: June 1973
  • Volume 3, pages 229–240 (1973)
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Can the statistical postulate of quantum theory be derived?—A critique of the many-universes interpretation
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  • L. E. Ballentine1 
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Abstract

The attempt to derive (rather than assume) the statistical postulate of quantum theory from the many-universes interpretation of Everett and De Witt is analyzed The many-universes interpretation is found to be neither necessary nor sufficient for the task.

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References

  1. B. S. De Witt, inBattelle Rencontres, 1967 Lecture in Mathematics and Physics, C. M. De Witt and J. A. Wheeler, eds. (Benjamin, New York, 1968), Ch. XII;Physics Today 23 (9), 30 (1970); article inProc. of the Int. School of Physics “Enrico Fermi,” Course IL:Foundations of Quantum Mechanics (Academic, New York, 1971).

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  2. L. E. Ballentine, P. Pearle, E. H. Walker, M. Sachs, T. Koga, J. Gerver, and B. S. De Witt,Physics Today 24 (4), 36 (1971).

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  3. H. Everett III,Rev. Mod. Phys. 29, 454 (1957).

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  4. L. E. Ballentine,Rev. Mod. Phys. 42, 358 (1970).

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  5. E. P. Wigner,Am. J. Phys. 31, 6 (1963).

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  6. J. B. Hartle,Am. J. Phys. 36, 704 (1968).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

    L. E. Ballentine

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  1. L. E. Ballentine
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Ballentine, L.E. Can the statistical postulate of quantum theory be derived?—A critique of the many-universes interpretation. Found Phys 3, 229–240 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708440

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  • Received: 07 June 1971

  • Issue date: June 1973

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708440

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Keywords

  • Quantum Theory

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