Superluminal Transformations and Indeterminism
- URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2601.15263v1
- Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:48:46 GMT
- Title: Superluminal Transformations and Indeterminism
- Authors: Amrapali Sen, Flavio Del Santo,
- Abstract summary: Lorentz symmetry formally admits superluminal transformations (SpTs)<n>We derive a no-go theorem from natural assumptions, which can be interpreted as: superluminal transformations (SpTs) and finite information cannot coexist.
- Score: 0.0
- License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
- Abstract: Quantum theory is widely regarded as fundamentally indeterministic, yet classical frameworks can also exhibit indeterminism once infinite information is abandoned. At the same time, relativity is usually taken to forbid superluminal signalling, yet Lorentz symmetry formally admits superluminal transformations (SpTs). Dragan and Ekert have argued that SpTs entail indeterminism analogous to the quantum one. Here, we derive a no-go theorem from natural assumptions, which can be interpreted as: superluminal transformations (SpTs) and finite information cannot coexist. Any theory accommodating SpTs must therefore allow unbounded information content, leading to a deterministic ontology akin to that of classical theories formulated over the real numbers. Thus, any apparent indeterminism arising from superluminal transformations reflects only probabilities arising from subjective ignorance, unlike the objective nature of probabilities in quantum theory, indicating that the claimed indeterminacy from superluminal extensions is not quantum.
Related papers
- Parity erasure: a foundational principle for indefinite causal order [3.044633305006356]
We identify an information-theoretic principle, termed parity erasure, that characterizes such processes.<n>Our characterization does not rely on the formalism of quantum theory itself, but instead is derived from a set of axioms for general operational probabilistic theories.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-12-09T14:21:04Z) - Time Symmetry, Retrocausality, and Emergent Collapse: The Tlalpan Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics [51.56484100374058]
The Tlalpan Interpretation (QTI) proposes that the wavefunction collapse is not a primitive, axiomatic rule but an emergent phenomenon.<n>The novelty of QTI lies in its embedding of collapse within the conceptual language of critical phenomena in statistical physics.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-08-25T20:30:56Z) - Emergence of cosmic structure from Planckian discreteness [47.03992469282679]
In the standard paradigm the inhomogeneities observed in the CMB arise from quantum fluctuations of an initially homogeneous and isotropic vacuum state.<n>We propose an alternative paradigm in which such inhomogeneities are present from the very beginning.<n>Specifically, inhomogeneities in the quantum state at the Planck scale propagate into semiclassical inhomogeneities on CMB scales.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2025-06-18T12:33:31Z) - Fundamental limits for realising quantum processes in spacetime [1.7802147489386633]
We derive no-go theorems for quantum experiments realisable in classical background spacetimes.
Our first theorem implies that realisations of ICO processes that do not violate relativistic causality must involve the non-localization of systems in spacetime.
The second theorem shows that for any such realisation of an ICO process, there exists a more fine-grained description in terms of a definite and acyclic causal order process.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2024-08-23T21:41:49Z) - Testing trajectory-based determinism via time probability distributions [41.99844472131922]
We introduce a prescription for constructing an arrival-time probability distribution within generic trajectory-equipped theories.<n>We derive a conditional probability distribution that is unreachable by quantum mechanics.<n>Our results can be tested experimentally, thereby assessing the validity of trajectory-based determinism.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2024-04-15T11:36:38Z) - Connecting classical finite exchangeability to quantum theory [45.76759085727843]
Exchangeability is a fundamental concept in probability theory and statistics.<n>It allows to model situations where the order of observations does not matter.<n>It is well known that both theorems do not hold for finitely exchangeable sequences.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2023-06-06T17:15:19Z) - Why we should interpret density matrices as moment matrices: the case of
(in)distinguishable particles and the emergence of classical reality [69.62715388742298]
We introduce a formulation of quantum theory (QT) as a general probabilistic theory but expressed via quasi-expectation operators (QEOs)
We will show that QT for both distinguishable and indistinguishable particles can be formulated in this way.
We will show that finitely exchangeable probabilities for a classical dice are as weird as QT.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-03-08T14:47:39Z) - Convexity and uncertainty in operational quantum foundations [0.0]
The purpose of this thesis is to investigate fundamental aspects of uncertainty.
We first try to reveal why in quantum theory similar bounds are often obtained for two types of uncertainty relations.
Then we consider a broader expression of uncertainty in quantum theory called quantum incompatibility.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2022-02-28T14:45:10Z) - Stochastic approximate state conversion for entanglement and general quantum resource theories [41.94295877935867]
An important problem in any quantum resource theory is to determine how quantum states can be converted into each other.
Very few results have been presented on the intermediate regime between probabilistic and approximate transformations.
We show that these bounds imply an upper bound on the rates for various classes of states under probabilistic transformations.
We also show that the deterministic version of the single copy bounds can be applied for drawing limitations on the manipulation of quantum channels.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2021-11-24T17:29:43Z) - Quantum realism: axiomatization and quantification [77.34726150561087]
We build an axiomatization for quantum realism -- a notion of realism compatible with quantum theory.
We explicitly construct some classes of entropic quantifiers that are shown to satisfy almost all of the proposed axioms.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2021-10-10T18:08:42Z) - Quantum indistinguishability through exchangeable desirable gambles [69.62715388742298]
Two particles are identical if all their intrinsic properties, such as spin and charge, are the same.
Quantum mechanics is seen as a normative and algorithmic theory guiding an agent to assess her subjective beliefs represented as (coherent) sets of gambles.
We show how sets of exchangeable observables (gambles) may be updated after a measurement and discuss the issue of defining entanglement for indistinguishable particle systems.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2021-05-10T13:11:59Z) - Gentle Measurement as a Principle of Quantum Theory [9.137554315375919]
We propose the gentle measurement principle (GMP) as one of the principles at the foundation of quantum mechanics.
We show, within the framework of general probabilistic theories, that GMP imposes strong restrictions on the law of physics.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2021-03-28T11:59:49Z) - Entropic Uncertainty Relations in a Class of Generalized Probabilistic
Theories [0.0]
Entropic uncertainty relations play an important role in both fundamentals and applications of quantum theory.
The current study explores two types of entropic uncertainty relations, preparation and measurement uncertainty relations.
It manifests that the entropic structure of uncertainty relations in quantum theory is more universal.
arXiv Detail & Related papers (2020-06-10T06:11:03Z)
This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.
This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.