Quantum theory of preparation and measurement

Pegg, D.T. and Barnett, S.M. and Jeffers, J. (2002) Quantum theory of preparation and measurement. Journal of Modern Optics, 49 (5-6). pp. 913-924. ISSN 1362-3044 (https://doi.org/10.1080/09500340110109412)

[thumbnail of strathprints005854]
Preview
Text. Filename: strathprints005854.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript

Download (128kB)| Preview

Abstract

The conventional postulate for the probabilistic interpretation of quantum mechanics is asymmetric in preparation and measurement, making retrodiction reliant on inference by use of Bayes' theorem. Here, a more fundamental symmetric postulate is presented, from which both predictive and retrodictive probabilities emerge immediately, even where measurement devices more general than those usually considered are involved. It is shown that the new postulate is perfectly consistent with the conventional postulate.

ORCID iDs

Pegg, D.T., Barnett, S.M. and Jeffers, J. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8573-1675;