The Counterfactual Meaning of the ABL Rule

dc.creatorMarchildon, Louis
dc.date2003-07-10
dc.date2004-08-10
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T06:07:18Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T06:07:18Z
dc.descriptionThe Aharonov-Bergmann-Lebowitz rule assigns probabilities to quantum measurement results at time t on the condition that the system is prepared in a given way at t_1 < t and found in a given state at t_2 > t. The question whether the rule can also be applied counterfactually to the case where no measurement is performed at the intermediate time t has recently been the subject of controversy. I argue that the counterfactual meaning may be understood in terms of the true value of an observable at t. Such a value cannot be empirically determined for, by stipulation, the measurement that would yield it is not performed. Nevertheless, it may or may not be well-defined depending on one's proposed interpretation of quantum mechanics. Various examples are discussed illustrating what can be asserted at the intermediate time without running into contradictions.
dc.descriptionPublished version, one reference added
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0307082
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0307082
dc.identifierProc. of QTRF-2 meeting (Vaxjo University Press, Vaxjo, Sweden, 2004), pp. 403-412
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/91247
dc.subjectQuantum Physics
dc.titleThe Counterfactual Meaning of the ABL Rule
dc.typetext

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