Title:	A computational model for quantum measurement
Authors:	Srikanth, R.
Keywords:	Quantum measurement theory quantum information processing entanglement production
Issue Date:	Jun-2003
Publisher:	Springer Verlag
Citation:	Quantum Information Processing, 2003, Vol.2, p153-199
Abstract:	Is the dynamical evolution of physical systems objectively a manifestation of information processing by the universe? We find that an affirmative answer has important consequences for the measurement problem. In particular, we calculate the amount of quantum information processing involved in the evolution of physical systems, assuming a finite degree of fine-graining of Hilbert space. This assumption is shown to imply that there is a finite capacity to sustain the immense entanglement that measurement entails. When this capacity is overwhelmed, the system's unitary evolution becomes computationally unstable and the system suffers an information transition (ldquocollapserdquo). Classical behavior arises from the rapid cycles of unitary evolution and information transition. Thus, the fine-graining of Hilbert space determines the location of the ldquoHeisenberg cutrdquo, the mesoscopic threshold separating the microscopic, quantum system from the macroscopic, classical environment. The model can be viewed as a probablistic complement to decoherence, that completes the measurement process by turning decohered improper mixtures of states into proper mixtures. It is shown to provide a natural resolution to the measurement problem and the basis problem.
Description:	Restricted Access.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/2289/3063
ISSN:	1570-0755 1573-1332 (Online)
Alternative Location:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:QINP.0000004123.82268.f4
Copyright:	2003 Springer-Verlag
Appears in Collections:	Research Papers (LAMP)

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