Perspectives Of Research On The Foundations Of Quantum Mechanics

‎Louis Marchildon

Abstract—Since the beginning, quantum mechanics has raised major foundational and interpretative problems. Foundational research has been an important factor in the development of quantum cryptography, quantum information theory and, per-haps one day, practical quantum computers. Many believe that, in turn, quantum information theory has bearing on foundational research. This is largely related to the so-called epistemic view of quantum states, which maintains that the state vector represents information on a system and which has led to the suggestion that quantum theory needs no interpretation. I will argue that this and related approaches fail to take into consideration two different explanatory functions of quantum mechanics, that of accounting for classically unexplainable correlations between classical phenomena and that of explaining the microscopic structure of classical objects. The epistemic view provides no answer to what constitutes the main question of interpretation: How can the world be for quantum mechanics to be true? I will then review three different approaches to understanding quan-tum mechanics, namely, Bohmian mechanics, Everett’s relative states, and Cramer’s transactional interpretation. I will show that these approaches answer the above question, as well as other foundational ones. This paper is written from the perspective that different logically consistent interpretations, far from leading to confusion, in fact contribute to increased understanding of the theory. I.

Patrick Suppes

Jose Maria Alonso India

Quantum computing has emerged as a rapidly evolving paradigm withthe potential to transform information processing, communication systems,and computational security. This tutorial paper presents a structuredoverview of foundational concepts in quantum mechanics relevant tocomputation, including quantum states, photons, and core principles underlyingquantum information processing. It further reviews key quantumalgorithms and their implications for computational advantage over classicalapproaches. In addition, the paper examines the conceptual relationshipbetween quantum computation and information theory, highlightinghow quantum effects influence modern computational models. The discussionextends to emerging perspectives on quantum-enabled systemsand their potential impact on secure communications and cryptographicframeworks. Finally, the paper outlines current challenges, open questions,and future research directions in quantum computation and quantuminformation science, aiming to provide researchers and practitionerswith a consolidated conceptual foundation and forward-looking perspective.

Herman Rubin

William A. Ponce, Nicolas F. Raigoza

Chamila Chandrabanu Ekanayake

This paper presents a critical review of the Wigner’s Friend thought experiment and its modern extensions within quantum mechanics. The study explores observer-dependent reality, measurement theory, quantum state assignment, and interpretational challenges arising from nested observers in quantum systems. Particular attention is given to the Frauchiger–Renner argument and its implications for the consistency of single-world interpretations of quantum mechanics. The paper discusses conceptual tensions between unitarity, observer perspectives, and objective reality, while examining possible resolutions proposed in contemporary quantum foundations research. This work is intended as an independent scholarly review aimed at contributing to discussions in quantum foundations and quantum information theory.