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Physics Essays

Space‐time structure as a property derived from the operation of consciousness at the quantum-classical boundary

Liang Shan

Published Mar 16, 2021• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The space‐time is empirically perceived as a pre-existing property of the universe. However, a special kind of perception that takes place in near-death-experiences (NDEs) is challenging this idea. Here, I will illustrate how understanding of this particular state of consciousness (named the bodiless consciousness) helps us re-think the space‐time structure of the physical world. I first speculate that the bodiless consciousness perceives the physical world as nonlocal 4D. I then propose that the space‐time is a “derived” feature subsequent to the emergence of perception of the bodiless consciousness, rather than a pre-existing and unchangeable property. Next, I explain that the space structure only takes place in the classical (or macroscopic) world rather than in the quantum (or microscopic) world, due to its intrinsic imperceptibility to the bodiless consciousness. Without a presupposed structure of the space, the strangeness of the quantum world is expected. Then, I bring up the old measurement problem. I will argue that it is the bodiless consciousness that may entangle with the superposed state of an observed system and trigger the collapse. Finally, I will briefly discuss the potential relationship between electromagnetic wave and consciousness.

DOI
10.4006/0836-1398-34.1.6

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The space‐time is empirically perceived as a pre-existing property of the universe. However, a special kind of perception that takes place in near-death-experiences (NDEs) is challenging this idea. Here, I will illustrate how understanding of this particular state of consciousness (named the bodiless consciousness) helps us re-think the space‐time structure of the physical world. I first speculate that the bodiless consciousness perceives the physical world as nonlocal 4D. I then propose that the space‐time is a “derived” feature subsequent to the emergence of perception of the bodiless consciousness, rather than a pre-existing and unchangeable property. Next, I explain that the space structure only takes place in the classical (or macroscopic) world rather than in the quantum (or microscopic) world, due to its intrinsic imperceptibility to the bodiless consciousness. Without a presupposed structure of the space, the strangeness of the quantum world is expected. Then, I bring up the old measurement problem. I will argue that it is the bodiless consciousness that may entangle with the superposed state of an observed system and trigger the collapse. Finally, I will briefly discuss the potential relationship between electromagnetic wave and consciousness.
The difficulty in solving the measurement problem may derive from a lack of thorough understanding of the nature of consciousness. Recent findings from parapsychological research and confirmed reports of veridical perceptions during near death experiences (NDEs) show that consciousness can acquire non-local information and may act as an independent entity outside of the body. But how apparent nonlocal properties of consciousness correlate with the measurement problem is unclear. Starting from the assumption that discrete states of consciousness are entangled with corresponding superposed eigenstates of an observed system, the findings of the double-slit experiment and delayed-choice quantum eraser experiment are reanalyzed and the non-locality of consciousness entity is derived from first principles. I propose experimental designs aimed at testing non-local entanglement between multiple consciousness entities that may help explain anomalous phenomena including telepathy, the role of “which-path information” in a measurement, and the nature of consciousness in non-human animals. Finally, I discuss the origin of the perception of time and the relationship between time and consciousness.
Collapse models possibly suggest the need for a better understanding of the structure of space-time. We argue that physical space, and space-time, are emergent features of the Universe, which arise as a result of dynamical collapse of the wave function. The starting point for this argument is the observation that classical time is external to quantum theory, and there ought to exist an equivalent reformulation which does not refer to classical time. We propose such a reformulation, based on a non-commutative special relativity. In the spirit of Trace Dynamics, the reformulation is arrived at, as a statistical thermodynamics of an underlying classical dynamics in which matter and non-commuting space-time degrees of freedom are matrices obeying arbitrary commutation relations. Inevitable statistical fluctuations around equilibrium can explain the emergence of classical matter fields and classical space-time, in the limit in which the universe is dominated by macroscopic objects. The underlying non-commutative structure of space-time also helps understand better the peculiar nature of quantum non-locality, where the effect of wave-function collapse in entangled systems is felt across space-like separations.
In a number of experimental studies we explored the so‐called ‘radical subjective’, and rather controversial, solution of the measurement problem. This solution posits that an interaction with a conscious entity is required to complete the measurement. Thus the collapse of the wave packet is assumed to be causally linked to a conscious observation. Under the assumption that the brain is sensitive for the difference between observing a quantum (superposition) state and a classical state this radical solution can be tested. A radioactive source was used to trigger beeps that first were delayed for 1 second and then were observed by a (final) observer from whom a continuous recording of brain activity was made. In about 50% of the events, another (pre) observer got feedback of this quantum event before the final observer. In those cases, presumably the pre‐observer’s observation resulted in collapse of the wave‐packet while in the other half of the cases the final observer was ‘producing’ the collapse. The brain signals of the final observer for the two types of events were compared. The ambiguous results of the studies will be discussed. If consciousness is the crucial ingredient for ‘collapse’ to occur, then this might also give a new anthropocentric hypothesis with regard to the ‘arrow of time’. The projection postulate implies a irreversible process of reduction and hence can be seen as one of the few non time‐symmetric processes in physics. If consciousness is required to have a collapse then it might follow that consciousness introduces time asymmetry into physics. New neuro‐cognitive models of consciousness suggest that the neural correlate of conscious experience (rather than non conscious processing) is the occurrence of massive parallel recurrent (i.e. non linear) neural activation. Thus the collapse of the wave packet would become associated with a strong non‐linear process. This fits, at least in a metaphorical sense, with the theoretical results where an introduction on a non linear term in the Schr̈odinger equation results in an ‘objective’ reduction of the wave packet.
The collapse postulate in quantum mechanics is problematic due to the measurement problem. The problem lies not with collapse per se, but with the appeal to measurement; a theory that could underwrite the collapse process without ineliminable reference to measurement would constitute a solution to the measurement problem. This is the strategy pursued by dynamical (or spontaneous) collapse theories. But dynamical collapse theories face a number of challenges. First, they make different empirical predictions from standard quantum mechanics, and hence are potentially empirically refutable. Second, there are difficulties reconciling the dynamical collapse mechanism with special relativity. Third, the post-collapse state is not the same as the post-measurement state of standard quantum mechanics, raising the possibility that dynamical collapse theories do not solve the measurement problem after all. Assuming that these challenges can be met, dynamical collapse theories can lay claim to being serious contenders for the correct description of the quantum world. And the description they provide has a number of interesting consequences. First, it makes indeterminism an irreducible fact about the physical world. It has been argued that this has important consequences for the foundations of statistical mechanics, for free will, and for consciousness. Second, many dynamical collapse theories can be taken to imply that the quantum wave function is fundamental, giving rise to a new kind of vagueness, since a wave can be fuzzy around the edges in a way that a particle cannot. Furthermore, the quantum wave function is defined over a high-dimensional space, not the three-dimensional space of experience, suggesting to some that three-dimensionality is an illusion.
We address the relation between two apparently distinct problems: The quest for a deeper understanding of the nature of consciousness and the search for time and space as emergent structures in the quantum mechanical world. We also advance a toy-model proposal of emergence of time from a timeless unus mundus quantum-like space by using Aharonov's two state formalism of quantum mechanics. We further speculate on these issues within a quantum cognitive perspective with particular interest in two recent papers on this emerging field of science. One (Aerts et al) entails (as we argue) a panpsychist top-down approach to the problem of consciousness. The second paper (Blutner et al) proposes a quantum cognitive model for Jung's psychological type structure. We discuss these concepts and their relation with our main thesis, that time is a measure of individuality. One of our central motivations is to provide arguments that allows the mainstream physicist to take seriously a panpsychist worldview, a position that has been openly forwarded by many modern philosophers.
On the basis of acknowledged quantum facts it is argued that the quantum state is extended in four spatial dimensions in a 4D space interpenetrating our 3D space. The notion of branes is borrowed from M/String Theory to conceptualize the spatial arrangement. Euclidean spacetime is reinterpreted as the spatial geometry of the 4-brane, with �imaginary time� reinterpreted as the fourth (imaginary) spatial dimension. The imaginary axis of the quantum state is identified as its fourth spatial dimension, yielding a natural union of Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics and the emergence of time. Spatial properties are shown to explain quantum nonlocality, while time in the 3-brane emerges from motion of or through the imaginary dimension in the 4-brane. A consciousness-model is introduced which conforms to the spatial configuration while providing mechanisms for resolution of the Measurement Problem.