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World Scientific Publishing, International Journal of Quantum Information, 01(04), p. 17-43

DOI: 10.1142/s0219749906001591

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Dialogue Concerning Two Views on Quantum Coherence: Factist and Fictionist

Journal article published in 2005 by Stephen D. Bartlett ORCID, Terryrudolph, Terry Rudolph, Robert W. Spekkens
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Abstract

A controversy that has arisen many times over in disparate contexts is whether quantum coherences between eigenstates of certain quantities are fact or fiction. We present a pedagogical introduction to the debate in the form of a hypothetical dialogue between proponents from each of the two camps: a factist and a fictionist. A resolution of the debate can be achieved, we argue, by recognizing that quantum states do not only contain information about the intrinsic properties of a system but about its extrinsic properties as well, that is, about its relation to other systems external to it. Specifically, the coherent quantum state of the factist is the appropriate description of the relation of the system to one reference frame, while the incoherent quantum state of the fictionist is the appropriate description of the relation of the system to another, uncorrelated, reference frame. The two views, we conclude, are alternative but equally valid paradigms of description. ; Comment: 14 pages, Contribution to the Int. J. of Quant. Info. issue dedicated to the memory of Asher Peres; v2 updated summary and critique of prior literature