[PhilPhys] Q+ Hangout: Markus Mueller

[Matthew Leifer]

Q+ hangouts is a series of online seminars on quantum foundations and 
quantum information that take place on Google+ using the hangouts 
feature. The next talk is on quantum foundations, so it may be of 
interest to subscribers of this list.

Date/time: Tuesday 23rd October 2pm BST
Speaker: Markus Mueller (Perimeter Institute)
Title: Three-dimensionality of space and the quantum bit: an 
information-theoretic approach

Absract: It is sometimes pointed out as a curiosity that the state space 
of quantum two-level systems, i.e. the qubit, and actual physical space 
are both three-dimensional and Euclidean. In this talk, I report on 
joint work with Lluis Masanes, where we attempt an information-theoretic 
analysis of this relationship, by proving a particular mathematical 
result: suppose that physics takes place in d spatial dimensions, and 
that some events happen probabilistically (not assuming quantum theory 
in any way). Furthermore, suppose there are systems that behave in some 
sense as “units of direction information”, interacting via some 
continuous reversible time evolution. We prove that this uniquely 
determines spatial dimension d=3 and quantum theory on two qubits. 
Hence, abstractly postulating the “nice” behavior of a Stern-Gerlach 
device in information-theoretic terms determines already some important 
aspects of physics as we know it.

This talk is based on http://arxiv.org/abs/1208.0493
To watch the talk live go to http://qplus.to/qplus at the appointed hour.

To keep up to date with Q+ hangouts, follow us on:
Google+: http://gplus.to/qplus
Twitter: @qplushangouts
Facebook: http://facebook.com/qplushangouts
or visit out website http://qplus.burgarth.de

_______________________________________________
PhilPhys - Philosophy of Physics Mail Group
Help & Archives: http://phil.elte.hu/PhilPhys