Objective-collapse theoryObjective-collapse theories, also known as models of spontaneous wave function collapse or dynamical reduction models, are proposed solutions to the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. As with other theories called interpretations of quantum mechanics, they are possible explanations of why and how quantum measurements always give definite outcomes, not a superposition of them as predicted by the Schrödinger equation, and more generally how the classical world emerges from quantum theory.
Gauge fixingIn the physics of gauge theories, gauge fixing (also called choosing a gauge) denotes a mathematical procedure for coping with redundant degrees of freedom in field variables. By definition, a gauge theory represents each physically distinct configuration of the system as an equivalence class of detailed local field configurations. Any two detailed configurations in the same equivalence class are related by a gauge transformation, equivalent to a shear along unphysical axes in configuration space.
Axiom of dependent choiceIn mathematics, the axiom of dependent choice, denoted by , is a weak form of the axiom of choice () that is still sufficient to develop most of real analysis. It was introduced by Paul Bernays in a 1942 article that explores which set-theoretic axioms are needed to develop analysis. A homogeneous relation on is called a total relation if for every there exists some such that is true. The axiom of dependent choice can be stated as follows: For every nonempty set and every total relation on there exists a sequence in such that for all In fact, x0 may be taken to be any desired element of X.
Choice functionA choice function (selector, selection) is a mathematical function f that is defined on some collection X of nonempty sets and assigns some element of each set S in that collection to S by f(S); f(S) maps S to some element of S. In other words, f is a choice function for X if and only if it belongs to the direct product of X. Let X = { {1,4,7}, {9}, {2,7} }. Then the function that assigns 7 to the set {1,4,7}, 9 to {9}, and 2 to {2,7} is a choice function on X.
Forcing (mathematics)In the mathematical discipline of set theory, forcing is a technique for proving consistency and independence results. Intuitively, forcing can be thought of as a technique to expand the set theoretical universe to a larger universe by introducing a new "generic" object . Forcing was first used by Paul Cohen in 1963, to prove the independence of the axiom of choice and the continuum hypothesis from Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory.
Derivative of the exponential mapIn the theory of Lie groups, the exponential map is a map from the Lie algebra g of a Lie group G into G. In case G is a matrix Lie group, the exponential map reduces to the matrix exponential. The exponential map, denoted exp:g → G, is analytic and has as such a derivative d/dtexp(X(t)):Tg → TG, where X(t) is a C1 path in the Lie algebra, and a closely related differential dexp:Tg → TG. The formula for dexp was first proved by Friedrich Schur (1891).