Abstract
We show that three fundamental information-theoretic constraints-the impossibility of superluminal information transfer between two physical systems by performing measurements on one of them, the impossibility of broadcasting the information contained in an unknown physical state, and the impossibility of unconditionally secure bit commitment-suffice to entail that the observables and state space of a physical theory are quantum-mechanical. We demonstrate the converse derivation in part, and consider the implications of alternative answers to a remaining open question about nonlocality and bit commitment.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Tidsskrift | Foundations of Physics |
| Vol/bind | 33 |
| Udgave nummer | 11 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 1561-1591 |
| ISSN | 0015-9018 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2003 |
| Udgivet eksternt | Ja |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:We thank Rob Spekkens for insightful comments on broadcasting and bit commitment that were very helpful in clearing up some confusions and unclarities. One of us (J.B.) wishes to acknowledge support from the University of Maryland for a Leave Fellowship and a General Research Board Fellowship for the duration of the project.