An extended Bloch representation of quantum mechanics was recently derived to offer a possible (hidden-measurements) solution to the measurement problem. In this article we use this representation to investigate the geometry of superposition and entangled states, explaining interference effects and entanglement correlations in terms of the different orientations a state-vector can take within the generalized Bloch sphere. We also introduce a tensorial determination of the generators of SU(N), which we show to be particularly suitable for the description of multipartite systems, from the viewpoint of the sub-entities. We then use it to show that non-product states admit a general description where sub-entities can remain in well-defined states, even when entangled. This means that the completed version of quantum mechanics provided by the extended Bloch representation, where density operators are also considered to be representative of genuine states (providing a complete description), not only offers a plausible solution to the measurement problem but also to the lesser-known entanglement problem. This is because we no longer need to give up the general physical principle saying that a composite entity exists and therefore is in a well-defined state, if and only if its components also exist and therefore are also in well-defined states.
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December 2016
Research Article|
December 30 2016
The extended Bloch representation of quantum mechanics: Explaining superposition, interference, and entanglement
Diederik Aerts
;
Diederik Aerts
a)
1Center Leo Apostel for Interdisciplinary Studies,
Brussels Free University
, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Massimiliano Sassoli de Bianchi
Massimiliano Sassoli de Bianchi
b)
2
Laboratorio di Autoricerca di Base
, 6914 Lugano, Switzerland
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a)
E-mail: diraerts@vub.ac.be
b)
E-mail: autoricerca@gmail.com
J. Math. Phys. 57, 122110 (2016)
Article history
Received:
November 17 2015
Accepted:
December 14 2016
Citation
Diederik Aerts, Massimiliano Sassoli de Bianchi; The extended Bloch representation of quantum mechanics: Explaining superposition, interference, and entanglement. J. Math. Phys. 1 December 2016; 57 (12): 122110. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4973356
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