Wigner’s friend scenario and a new interpretation of quantum mechanics v2

Qian Li

Published Oct 5, 2023• 0 citations

Abstract

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.

DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3270399/v3

Related papers

Wigner’s friend scenario and a new interpretation of quantum mechanics v2

Qian Li

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.

Sep 5, 20230 citations

Wigner's friend scenario, Born's rule and an alternative formulation of pilot wave theory

Qian Li

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.

Dec 29, 20230 citations

Wigner's friend scenario, Born's rule and a new interpretation of quantum mechanics

Qian Li

Aug 17, 20230 citations

A no-go theorem for the persistent reality of Wigner’s friend’s perception

Philippe Allard Guérin, Veronika Baumann, Flavio Del Santo +1 more

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.

arXiv:2009.09499Communications PhysicsMay 13, 202178 citations

Wigner’s friend scenarios: On what to condition and how to verify the predictions

Flavio Del Santo, Gonzalo Manzano, Časlav Brukner

Wigner’s friend experiment and its modern extensions display the ambiguity of the quantum mechanical description regarding the assignment of quantum states. While the friend applies the state-update rule to the system upon observing an outcome of her measurement in a quantum system, Wigner describes the friend’s measurement as a unitary evolution, resulting in an entangled state for the composite system of the friend and the system. In this respect, Wigner is often referred to as a “superobserver,” who has the supreme technological ability to keep the friend’s laboratory coherent. As such, it is often argued that he has the “correct” description of the state. Here, we show that the situation is more symmetrical than is usually thought: There are different types of information that each of the observers has that the other fundamentally cannot have—they reside in different “bubbles” (in Cavalcanti’s terminology). While this can explain why the objectivity of the state assignment is only relative to the bubble, we consider more elaborated situations in the form of a game in which the players can switch between bubbles. We find that, in certain circumstances, observers may be entitled to adopt and verify the state assignment from another bubble if they condition their predictions on information that is in principle available to them.

arXiv:2407.06279Physical Review ResearchSep 3, 20253 citations

Wigner's Friend Paradox: Quantum Measurement, Observation, and the Problem of Objectivity

Mirza Adnan Mohtashim

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).

May 29, 20260 citations