Double or nothing: a Kolmogorov extension theorem for multitime (bi)probabilities in quantum mechanics

Lonigro D, Sakuldee F, Cywiński Ł, Chruściński D, Szańkowski P (2024)


Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Book Volume: 8

Article Number: 1447

DOI: 10.22331/q-2024-08-27-1447

Abstract

The multitime probability distributions obtained by repeatedly probing a quantum system via the measurement of an observable generally violate Kolmogorov's consistency property. Therefore, one cannot interpret such distributions as the result of the sampling of a single trajectory. We show that, nonetheless, they do result from the sampling of one pair of trajectories. In this sense, rather than give up on trajectories, quantum mechanics requires to double down on them. To this purpose, we prove a generalization of the Kolmogorov extension theorem that applies to families of complex-valued bi-probability distributions (that is, defined on pairs of elements of the original sample spaces), and we employ this result in the quantum mechanical scenario. We also discuss the relation of our results with the quantum comb formalism.

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APA:

Lonigro, D., Sakuldee, F., Cywiński, Ł., Chruściński, D., & Szańkowski, P. (2024). Double or nothing: a Kolmogorov extension theorem for multitime (bi)probabilities in quantum mechanics. Quantum, 8. https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2024-08-27-1447

MLA:

Lonigro, Davide, et al. "Double or nothing: a Kolmogorov extension theorem for multitime (bi)probabilities in quantum mechanics." Quantum 8 (2024).

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