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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Physics Monographs ((LNPMGR,volume 31))

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Abstract

The phrase ‘quantum mechanics on phase space’ [1.14] epitomises the fundamental question of the relationship between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. The deep structural differences between the two theories make it difficult to see how to justify the common claim that the latter theory emerges as an approximation to the former in circumstances under which Planck’s constant can be regarded as small. On the side of the states one would have to explain why superpositions of (vector) states representing macroscopically distinct properties of large systems are practically never observed. We do not enter into this difficult issue here.

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Chapter VI.

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Further Reading

  • E.G. Beltrametti, S. Bugajski. Decomposability of mixed states into pure states and related properties. International Journal of Theoretical Physics 32, 2235–2244, 1993.

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Therein

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© 1995 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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(1995). Phase Space. In: Operational Quantum Physics. Lecture Notes in Physics Monographs, vol 31. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-49239-9_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-49239-9_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-59358-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-49239-9

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