Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

John Wheeler (?) handwritten note concerning Niels Bohr's response to Hugh Everett, circa May-1956

JOHN ARCHIBALD WHEELER

Published May 19, 2011• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

This handwritten note describes the essence of Niels Bohr's response to Hugh Everett's work. The problem is that Everett's theory, by incorporating observers within the formalism, is in conflict with Bohr's view on what an observer is. Peter Byrne believes the handwriting is Wheeler's.

Related papers

John A Wheeler to Hugh Everett, III, 22-May-1956.

JOHN ARCHIBALD WHEELER

This is a letter from John Wheeler to Hugh Everett III with detailed comments regarding Everett’s thesis. Wheeler describes his meetings with Niels Bohr, Aage Petersen, and colleagues in Copenhagen and their reaction to the draft thesis. Wheeler emphasizes how difficult it will be for Everett to fully address the misunderstandings as he reworks his thesis given the limits of “everyday words.” Wheeler believes that the words are the problem, not the formalism. He says that he reported to the Copenhagen colleagues his sense that “Everett’s very original work is destined to become widely known."

•Oct 4, 2017•0 citations

John Wheeler letter to Hugh Everett, 26-May-1956

JOHN ARCHIBALD WHEELER

In spring of 1956, John Wheeler was in residence at the Lorentz Institute in Leiden, Netherlands. In April, 1956 a copy of the long version of Hugh Everett's thesis was sent to the Institute; the next month, Wheeler traveled to Copenhagen to discuss the thesis with Bohr and others. This is a letter he wrote to Everett after he returned to Leiden, following up on his letter from the day before (in which he forwarded Alexander Stern's criticisms to Everett). Here he includes his notes from a conversation with Niels Bohr — dated 4 May 1956 — on Everett's thesis, and urges Everett to come to Copenhagen immediately to discuss his work with Bohr. He includes an offer to pay for Everett's travel from his own research funds. Although Everett would ultimately travel to Copenhagen in 1959, he did not accept the invitation Wheeler extends here.

•May 19, 2011•0 citations

John Wheeler letter to Niels Bohr, 24-May-1956

JOHN ARCHIBALD WHEELER

In spring of 1956, John Wheeler was in residence at the Lorentz Institute in Leiden, Netherlands. In April, 1956 a copy of the long version of Hugh Everett's thesis was sent to Niels Bohr's Institute; the next month, Wheeler traveled to Copenhagen to discuss the thesis with Bohr and others. This document is a letter Wheeler sent to Bohr shortly after leaving, following up on the discussions on Everett at Copenhagen.

•May 19, 2011•0 citations

Niels Bohr letter to John Wheeler, 6-August-1957

Niels Henrik David Bohr

During the fall of 1957, Niels Bohr visited the U.S. In order to deliver several lectures at M.I.T. Here he is writing to John Wheeler to let him know his plans. Wheeler encouraged Hugh Everett to meet with Bohr while Bohr was in the U.S., but it seems Everett did not follow up on this opportunity.

•May 19, 2011•0 citations

Hugh Everett handwritten comments on Alexander Stern letter, circa 1956

Hugh Everett

Alexander Stern was an American physicist and engineer who spent many years during the 1950s and 1960s is residence at Bohr's Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen. In April, 1956 a copy of the long version of Hugh Everett's thesis was sent to the Institute; the next month, Wheeler traveled to Copenhagen to discuss the thesis with Bohr and others. Soon after he left, Stern held a seminar on Everett's work, during which he recorded some of the reactions of members of the Institute to Everett's ideas. After the seminar, Stern wrote a long letter to Wheeler describing his own (and reporting on his colleagues') dissatisfaction with Everett's theory. In this document, Everett sketches responses to each of Stern's principal arguments.

•May 19, 2011•0 citations

"Summary of random notes," handwritten notes and calculations, circa 1955

Everett, Hugh

Among Hugh Everett's files were a number of handwritten documents related to the writing of his thesis. Some of them were early notes on ideas and material that ultimately appeared in the long thesis. This document, entitled "Summary of random notes" by Everett, was found in a file labeled "Random notes". It includes an early discussion of the relationship between Bohr's complementarity and Everett's interpretation.

•Jan 1, 1955•0 citations
This is a letter from John Wheeler to Hugh Everett III with detailed comments regarding Everett’s thesis. Wheeler describes his meetings with Niels Bohr, Aage Petersen, and colleagues in Copenhagen and their reaction to the draft thesis. Wheeler emphasizes how difficult it will be for Everett to fully address the misunderstandings as he reworks his thesis given the limits of “everyday words.” Wheeler believes that the words are the problem, not the formalism. He says that he reported to the Copenhagen colleagues his sense that “Everett’s very original work is destined to become widely known."
In spring of 1956, John Wheeler was in residence at the Lorentz Institute in Leiden, Netherlands. In April, 1956 a copy of the long version of Hugh Everett's thesis was sent to the Institute; the next month, Wheeler traveled to Copenhagen to discuss the thesis with Bohr and others. This is a letter he wrote to Everett after he returned to Leiden, following up on his letter from the day before (in which he forwarded Alexander Stern's criticisms to Everett). Here he includes his notes from a conversation with Niels Bohr — dated 4 May 1956 — on Everett's thesis, and urges Everett to come to Copenhagen immediately to discuss his work with Bohr. He includes an offer to pay for Everett's travel from his own research funds. Although Everett would ultimately travel to Copenhagen in 1959, he did not accept the invitation Wheeler extends here.
Alexander Stern was an American physicist and engineer who spent many years during the 1950s and 1960s is residence at Bohr's Institute for Theoretical Physics in Copenhagen. In April, 1956 a copy of the long version of Hugh Everett's thesis was sent to the Institute; the next month, Wheeler traveled to Copenhagen to discuss the thesis with Bohr and others. Soon after he left, Stern held a seminar on Everett's work, during which he recorded some of the reactions of members of the Institute to Everett's ideas. After the seminar, Stern wrote a long letter to Wheeler describing his own (and reporting on his colleagues') dissatisfaction with Everett's theory. In this document, Everett sketches responses to each of Stern's principal arguments.