Don Page - "Observational Probabilities in Quantum Cosmology"

Don Page - "Observational Probabilities in Quantum Cosmology" Abstract: In quantum cosmology, we need not only the dynamical laws of physics (e.g., the algebra of quantum operators) and the quantum state of the universe (giving expectation values to the operators) but also rules for extracting observational probabilities from the quantum state. I have shown that these probabilities cannot be given by Born's rule interpreted mathematically as the rule that the observational probabilities are given by the expectation values of projection operators. However, the next simplest option seems to be that the relative probabilities are given by normalizable expectation values of other positive operators, one for each observation. Finding these operators is one way to state the measure problem of cosmology. Some preliminary ideas for part of the structure of these operators will be discussed, as well as how these ideas fit within a Bayesian analysis for ultimate theories. References: D.N.P., Insufficiency of the Quantum State for Deducing Observational Probabilities (arXiv:0808.0722) [ http://arxiv.org/abs/0808.0722 ]. D.N.P., The Born Rule Fails in Cosmology (arXiv:0903.4888) [ http://arxiv.org/abs/0903.4888 ]. D.N.P., Born Again (arXiv:0907.4152) [ http://arxiv.org/abs/0907.4152 ]. D.N.P., Born's Rule Is Insufficient in a Large Universe (arXiv:1003.2419) [ http://arxiv.org/abs/1003.2419 ]. Quantum Foundations of a Classical Universe workshop August 12-14, 2014 IBM Watson Research Lab