![]() ![]() The fact that there exist simulation algorithms that reproduce the results of quantum theory has no direct implications on the foundations of quantum theory: These algorithms describe the process of generating events on a level of detail about which quantum theory has nothing to say. This talk is not about interpretations or extensions of quantum theory. Our work suggests that we may have discovered a procedure to simulate quantum phenomena using event-based processes that satisfy Einstein's criterion of local causality. Therefore, at least in principle, our approach can be used to simulate all wave interference phenomena and many-body quantum systems using particle-like processes only. ![]() Furthermore, we have shown that this approach can be generalized to simulate universal quantum computation by an event-by-event process, and that it can be used to simulate real Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm (EPRB) experiments. In a number of recent papers, we have demonstrated that locally-connected networks of processing units can simulate event-by-event, the single-photon beam splitter and Mach-Zehnder interferometer experiments of Grangier et al. ![]() The challenge is to find algorithms that simulate, event-by-event, the experimental observations that, for instance, interference patterns appear only after a considerable number of individual events have been recorded by the detector, without first solving the Schrödinger equation. However, that is not what we mean when we say that within the framework of quantum theory, there is little hope to find an algorithm that simulates the individual events and reproduces the expectation values obtained from quantum theory. Of course, we could simply use pseudo-random numbers to generate events according to the probability distribution that is obtained by solving the time-independent Schrödinger equation. In view of the quantum measurement paradox, it is unlikely that we can find such a simulation algorithm by limiting our thinking to the framework of quantum theory. For instance, it should be possible to simulate that we can see, with our own eyes, how in a two-slit experiment with single electrons, an interference pattern appears after a considerable number of individual events have been recorded by the detector. If computer simulation is indeed a third methodology, it should be possible to simulate quantum phenomena on an event-by-event basis. Reconciling the mathematical formalism that does not describe individual events with the experimental fact that each observation yields a definite outcome is referred to as the quantum measurement paradox and is the most fundamental problem in the foundation of quantum theory. Indeed, as is well-known from the early days in the development of quantum theory, quantum theory has nothing to say about individual events. ![]() However, there are a number of physics problems, very fundamental ones, for which this approach fails, simply because there are no basic equations to start from. This approach has been highly successful for a wide variety of problems in science and engineering. The standard procedure is to start from one or more basic equations of physics and to apply existing or invent new algorithms to solve these equations. Keywords: Quantum Theory Computational TechniquesĬomputer simulation is widely regarded as complementary to theory and experiment. The simulation approach is illustrated by applications to single-photon Mach-Zehnder interferometer experiments and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm experiments with photons. In this talk, I discuss recent progress in the development of simulation algorithms that do not rely on any concept of quantum theory but are nevertheless capable of reproducing the averages computed from quantum theory through an event-by-event simulation. V Brazilian Meeting on Simulational Physics, Ouro Preto, 2007Įlectronic of Applied Physics, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands Event-by-event simulation of quantum phenomena * * ![]()
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