Why is Quantum Mechanics Sometimes Formulated in Terms of Fisher Information?
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In (1) the Schrodinger equation is derived using the extremization of Fisher information in a certain way formulated in (2) i.e. Extreme Physical Information. Fisher information, however, is defined in terms of P(x) which in quantum mechanics is W*(x)W(x) where W(x) is the wavefunction. As a result, the Schrodinger equation is derived in terms of P(x) and then the mathematical substitution P(x)=W(x)W(x) for a bound state “simplifies” the form of the equation. Otherwise there would be no need to introduce the wavefunction. Furthermore P(x) = constant for a quantum free particle which is also a solution of the Schrodinger equation. For P(x)=constant, however, one would normally not consider using the Fisher information.
We further note that in a physical example, namely that of the reflection/refraction of light from an interface of media one is forced to introduce the concept of a wavefunction i.e. the square root of flux, otherwise the problem cannot be solved. Thus in this situation one does not solve the problem in terms of P(x) and then introduce W(x) to simplify the form. In particular, if one considers a single photon moving to the right, it either reflects or refracts (with probability), but the ensuing equations involve the weight of the square root fluxes (wavefunctions) of all three. How can this be unless there is uncertainty in time and space which allows one to have all three together? Thus the reflection/refraction problem depends on square root probability or flux and introduces the idea of uncertainty in x, t. Given the translational invariance in the problem, it is natural to introduce the translation operator d/dx. In fact, one may define the uncertainty in x such that one has an eigenfunction of -id/dx i.e. exp(ipx). This is complex and so its modulus respects P(x)=constant which would yield a Fisher’s information of 0, meaning that there is no probability and hence no need for Fisher’s information. There is, however, probability in x, but a different level than the deterministic x=vt where v=constant.
Thus we argue that one may obtain exp(ipx) strictly from the notion of translational invariance.
In other words, Fisher information is not required to find this form and the quantum physics associated with it. Nevertheless Fisher information and EPI (Extreme physical Information) may be used to derive the Schrodinger equation (applied to a bound state) and one may deduce exp(ipx) from this. We note, however, that Fisher information makes use of d/dx which is the translational generator and so the idea of translational invariance and Fisher’s information/EPI may be linked.