No relative-entropy modification of the Born rule is no-signalling

We consider modifications of the Born rule in which measurement-outcome probabilities are reweighted by a relative-entropy functional of the post-measurement branches. Such entropic selectors are a natural candidate for a dynamical account of outcome selection, and fall outside the scope of steering-based derivations of the Born rule, which cover only convex/affine deformations. We prove a no-go result: under the standard branch-wise prescription, every relative-entropy selector that modifies the Born rule permits superluminal signalling, in every dimension d ≥ 2. The proof reduces, via the Gisin–Hughston–Jozsa–Wootters steering theorem, to the strict non-affinity of the selector, for which a closed-form chord witness is given. We then characterise where the rule is safe: for d = 2 it coincides with the Born rule exactly at the maximally mixed state, whereas for d ≥ 3 it signals at every full-rank state — proven on all diagonal states and an open neighbourhood, with the curvature attaining its global minimum (d−2)/ln d at the maximally mixed state. The conclusion: relative entropy can diagnose and constrain quantum dynamics, but promoting it to an active outcome selector reintroduces signalling. GHJW theorem quantum foundations steering

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-06-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20855108
Primary Topic
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Type
preprint
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preprint

No relative-entropy modification of the Born rule is no-signalling

Fabio Zander
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
preprint

No relative-entropy modification of the Born rule is no-signalling

Fabio Zander
preprint en

Abstract

We consider modifications of the Born rule in which measurement-outcome probabilities are reweighted by a relative-entropy functional of the post-measurement branches. Such entropic selectors are a natural candidate for a dynamical account of outcome selection, and fall outside the scope of steering-based derivations of the Born rule, which cover only convex/affine deformations. We prove a no-go result: under the standard branch-wise prescription, every relative-entropy selector that modifies the Born rule permits superluminal signalling, in every dimension d ≥ 2. The proof reduces, via the Gisin–Hughston–Jozsa–Wootters steering theorem, to the strict non-affinity of the selector, for which a closed-form chord witness is given. We then characterise where the rule is safe: for d = 2 it coincides with the Born rule exactly at the maximally mixed state, whereas for d ≥ 3 it signals at every full-rank state — proven on all diagonal states and an open neighbourhood, with the curvature attaining its global minimum (d−2)/ln d at the maximally mixed state. The conclusion: relative entropy can diagnose and constrain quantum dynamics, but promoting it to an active outcome selector reintroduces signalling. GHJW theorem quantum foundations steering

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Reduced inequalities
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
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No relative-entropy modification of the Born rule is no-signalling — Fabio Zander · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS