Talk by Miklós Rédei (LSE) at MCMP today

[Dardashti, Radin]

Speaker: Miklós Rédei (LSE)
Date: Mon., June 15
Location: Ludwigstr. 31, ground floor, room 021
Time: 18:15 -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 19:45

Title: Quantum probability theory

Abstract:
The seminar presents quantum theory as non-commutative probability 
theory, and the theory of von Neumann algebras as the non-commutative 
measure theory that serves as the general framework for quantum 
probability theory -- very much like classical measure theory is the 
framework for classical probability theory. The main results of the 
Murray-von Neumann classification theory of types of von Neumann 
algebras is recalled and the different types of von Neumann algebras are 
portrayed as yielding all the types of quantum probability spaces that 
are needed to model quantum systems. After pointing out the structural 
similarities of classical and quantum probability theory it is shown 
that a straightforward frequency interpretation of quantum probability 
theory is not possible. The seminar states the so-called "Kolmogorovian 
Censorship Hypothesis", which attempts to secure a frequency 
interpretation of quantum probability by interpreting quantum 
probabilities as classical conditional probabilities. The unattractive 
features of the Kolmogorovian Censorship Hypothesis are analyzed.

The seminar is based on :
M. Redei: "Kolmogorovian Censorship Hypothesis for general quantum 
probability theories" Manuscrito – Revista Internacional de Filosofia 33 
(2010) 365-380