Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Generalized urn models

  • Part III. Invited Papers Dedicated To The Memory Of Charles H. Randall (1928–1987)
  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This heuristic article introduces a generalization of the idea of drawing colored balls from an urn so as to allow mutually incompatible experiments to be represented, thereby providing a device for thinking about quantum logic and other non-classical statistical situations in a concrete way. Such models have proven valuable in generating examples and counterexamples and in making abstract definitions in quantum logic seem more intuitive.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. Birkhoff,Lattice Theory, 3rd edn. (American Mathematical Society, Providence, Rhode Island, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  2. D. J. Foulis, “Coupled physical systems,”Found. Phys. 19, 905–922 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  3. D. J. Foulis and C. H. Randall, “Operational statistics I: Basic concepts,”J. Math. Phys. 13, 1667–1675 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  4. D. J. Foulis, C. Piron, and C. H. Randall, “Realism, operationalism, and quantum mechanics,”Found. Phys. 13, 813–841 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  5. A. M. Gleason, “Measures on the closed subspaces of a Hilbert space,”J. Math. Mech. 6, 885–893 (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  6. S. P. Gudder,Quantum Probability (Academic Press, San Diego, 1988).

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. L. Kelley,General Topology (Van Nostrand, New York, 1955).

    Google Scholar 

  8. W. Pauli, “Die allgemeinen Prinzipien der Wellenmechanik,” inHandbuch der Physik 5, Teil 1 (1958).

  9. C. H. Randall and D. J. Foulis, “Operational Statistics II: Manuals of operations and their logics,”J. Math. Phys. 14, 1472–1480 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  10. C. H. Randall and D. J. Foulis, “Properties and operational propositions in quantum mechanics,”Found. Phys. 13, 843–857 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. R. Swift and R. Wright, “Generalized Stern-Gerlach experiments and the observability of arbitrary spin operators,”J. Math. Phys. 21, 77–82 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  12. R. Wright, “Spin manuals,” inMathematical Foundations of Quantum Theory, A. R. Marlow, ed. (Academic Press, New York, 1978), pp. 177–254.

    Google Scholar 

  13. R. Wright, “The state of the pentagon,” inMathematical Foundations of Quantum Theory, A. R. Marlow, ed. (Academic Press, New York, 1978), pp. 255–274.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 3815 Walnut Street, 19104-6196, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Ron Wright

Authors
  1. Ron Wright
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Dedicated to the fond memory of Charles H. Randall, mentor and friend, in collaboration with whom many of the ideas in this paper unfolded.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wright, R. Generalized urn models. Found Phys 20, 881–903 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01889696

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01889696

Keywords

Search

Navigation