Extending Kolmogorov’s Axioms for a Generalized Probability Theory on Collections of Contexts

Abstract

Kolmogorov’s axioms of probability theory are extended to conditional probabilities among distinct (and sometimes intertwining) contexts. Formally, this amounts to row stochastic matrices whose entries characterize the conditional probability to find some observable (postselection) in one context, given an observable (preselection) in another context. As the respective probabilities need not (but, depending on the physical/model realization, can) be of the Born rule type, this generalizes approaches to quantum probabilities by Aufféves and Grangier, which in turn are inspired by Gleason’s theorem.

Keywords

• value indefiniteness
• Kolmogorov axioms of probability theory
• Pitowsky’s logical indeterminacy principle
• quantum mechanics
• Gleason theorem
• Kochen–Specker theorem