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Progress of Theoretical Physics

Proposed Photon Interference Experiment for Test of Quantum Measurement Theories

Yoshitomi Morikawa, Mikio Namiki, Yoshié Otake

Published Nov 1, 1987• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We propose a possible experimental test of quantum measurement theories by means of a photon interference experiment, focusing on distinction between the many-Hilbert-spaces theory and the environment-induced-superselection-rule theory or the many-worlds interpretation.
DOI
10.1143/ptp.78.951

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The interpretation of measurements in quantum mechanics has been disputed for over a century. The scope of this study is to find an experimental test of Everett’s many-worlds interpretation that could potentially verify the existence of a multiverse. Our proposal is based on a quantum field theory formulation of the many-worlds interpretation through the path integral formalism and a careful choice of the vacuum state. By generalizing the earlier quantum suicide thought experiment to quantum field theory, we find that the many-worlds interpretation implies a measurable change in the lifetime of elementary particles.