Abstract In this paper, we analyze the thought experiment of "Wigner's friend" and point out that new understanding should be made to Born's rule and measurement process: Born's rule is no longer seen as a rule based on the history of the quantum system's, and the measurement results are no longer directly related to the state of the measured object before the measurement. Inspired by Everett III and H. Zurek's views, we believe that Born's rule reflects the coordination between different parts of the measured results in quantum entanglement systems, so it has nothing to do with the history of particles themselves but rather with the history records. A new interpretation of quantum mechanics is proposed, which is an objective interpretation. Under this interpretation, micro-particles can also be assigned definite states before being observed. Based on this interpretation, Wigner's friend-like scenarios or paradoxes extending Wigner's friend-like scenarios can be effectively explained. The new interpretation brings brand-new perspectives to many quantum phenomena. We also point out potential applications of the new interpretation in the future.
Abstract In this paper, we analyze the thought experiment of "Wigner's friend" and point out that new understanding should be made to Born's rule and measurement process: Born's rule is no longer seen as a rule based on the history of the quantum system's, and the measurement results are no longer directly related to the state of the measured object before the measurement. Inspired by Everett III and H. Zurek's views, we believe that Born's rule reflects the coordination between different parts of the measured results in quantum entanglement systems, so it has nothing to do with the history of particles themselves but rather with the history records. A new interpretation of quantum mechanics is proposed, which is an objective interpretation. Under this interpretation, micro-particles can also be assigned definite states before being observed. Based on this interpretation, Wigner's friend-like scenarios or paradoxes extending Wigner's friend-like scenarios can be effectively explained. The new interpretation brings brand-new perspectives to many quantum phenomena. We also point out potential applications of the new interpretation in the future.
Abstract In this paper, we analyze the thought experiment of "Wigner's friend" and point out that new understanding should be made to Born's rule and measurement process: Born's rule is no longer seen as a rule based on the history of the quantum system's, and the measurement results are no longer directly related to the state of the measured object before the measurement. Inspired by Everett III and H. Zurek's views, we believe that Born's rule reflects the coordination between different parts of the measured results in quantum entanglement systems, so it has nothing to do with the history of particles themselves but rather with the history records. A new interpretation of quantum mechanics is proposed, which is an objective interpretation. Under this interpretation, micro-particles can also be assigned definite states before being observed. Based on this interpretation, Wigner's friend-like scenarios or paradoxes extending Wigner's friend-like scenarios can be effectively explained. The new interpretation brings brand-new perspectives to many quantum phenomena. We also point out potential applications of the new interpretation in the future.
Abstract In this paper, we analyze the thought experiment of ”Wigner’s friend” and point out that new understanding should be made to Born’s rule and measurement process: Born’s rule is no longer seen as a rule based on the history of the quantum system’s, and the measurement results are no longer directly related to the state of the measured object before the measurement. Inspired by Everett III and H. Zurek’s views, we believe that Born’s rule reflects the coordination between states of different parts in quantum entanglement systems, so it has nothing to do with the history of particles themselves but rather with the historical records. A new interpretation of quantum mechanics, objective relative state formulation, or ORSF interpretation is proposed, which is a new type of pliot wave theory. Under this interpretation, micro-particles can also be assigned definite states before being observed. Based on this interpretation, Wigner’s friend-like scenarios can be effectively explained. The new interpretation brings new perspectives to many quantum phenomena. We also point out potential applications of the new interpretation in the future.
Abstract In this paper, we analyze the thought experiment of "Wigner's friend" and point out that new understanding should be made to Born's rule and measurement process: Born's rule is no longer seen as a rule based on the history of the quantum system's, and the measurement results are no longer directly related to the state of the measured object before the measurement. Inspired by Everett III and H. Zurek's views, we believe that Born's rule reflects the coordination between states of different parts in quantum entanglement systems, so it has nothing to do with the history of particles themselves but rather with the historical records. A new formulation of pilot wave theory, objective relative state formulation, or ORSF is suggested. Under this interpretation, micro-particles can also be assigned definite states before being observed. Based on this formulation, Wigner's friend-like scenarios can be effectively explained. We also notice that our universe can be totally retrocausal by the new formulation. The new interpretation brings new perspectives to many quantum phenomena.
This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of Wigner’s Friend paradox (1961), a foundational thought experiment in quantum mechanics that highlights the tension between the internal perspective of a measuring observer (who experiences a definite outcome) and the external perspective of a super-observer who treats the entire laboratory as a quantum system in superposition. It traces the historical lineage from Schrödinger’s cat and von Neumann’s measurement theory, provides a formal mathematical description of the state evolution and logical structure of the paradox, examines implications for major interpretations of quantum mechanics (Copenhagen, Everettian many-worlds, QBism, relational quantum mechanics, and objective collapse theories), and discusses modern extensions such as the Frauchiger–Renner paradox. The work explores profound philosophical and epistemological consequences for the nature of observation, objectivity, intersubjectivity, and the role of consciousness in quantum theory (2026).
Abstract The notorious Wigner’s friend thought experiment (and modifications thereof) has received renewed interest especially due to new arguments that force us to question some of the fundamental assumptions of quantum theory. In this paper, we formulate a no-go theorem for the persistent reality of Wigner’s friend’s perception, which allows us to conclude that the perceptions that the friend has of her own measurement outcomes at different times cannot “share the same reality”, if seemingly natural quantum mechanical assumptions are met. More formally, this means that, in a Wigner’s friend scenario, there is no joint probability distribution for the friend’s perceived measurement outcomes at two different times, that depends linearly on the initial state of the measured system and whose marginals reproduce the predictions of unitary quantum theory. This theorem entails that one must either (1) propose a nonlinear modification of the Born rule for two-time predictions, (2) sometimes prohibit the use of present information to predict the future—thereby reducing the predictive power of quantum theory—or (3) deny that unitary quantum mechanics makes valid single-time predictions for all observers. We briefly discuss which of the theorem’s assumptions are more likely to be dropped within various popular interpretations of quantum mechanics.
By assuming (i) a universal, observer-independent quantum state, by considering (ii) measurement processes with wave function collapse as part of quantum mechanical time evolution (also within isolated systems), and by (iii) clearly distinguishing the state of a quantum system from the knowledge of conscious observers about this state, we suggest a modified Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics that resolves Wigner's Friend and extended Wigner's Friend paradoxes. The suggested interpretation leads to differences in some outcome probabilities compared to previous analyses which, in principle, make it possible to falsify the suggested modifications or the previous analyses (or both). The fundamental problem of the incompleteness of quantum mechanics in the Copenhagen interpretation regarding the lack of a precise definition and a mechanistic description of the measurement process (including the collapse of the wave function) is not addressed in this study. However, the argumentation regarding the resolution of Wigner's Friend paradoxes also applies to attempts for such a mechanistic description using collapse models with stochastic extensions to the Schrödinger equation or trying to model wave function collapse with unitary time evolution and irreversibility of the measurement process resulting from quantum statistical mechanics.