This volume presents a comprehensive realist framework encompassing quantum foundations, quantum gravity, and the origin of inertia (Mach's Principle). It develops and builds upon a quantum ontology consisting of two fundamental ontic entities, called W-state and P-state, that respectively account for the wave- and particle-like aspects of quantum systems. W-state is a generalization of the wavefunction, but has ontic stature and is defined on the joint time-frequency domain. It constitutes a non-classical local reality, consisting of superpositions of quantum waves writ small. P-state enforces entanglement obligations and mediates the global coordination within quantum systems required to bring about wavefunction collapse in causal fashion consistent with special relativity. Quantum theory is rebuilt from the ground up, and the development then proceeds to quantum gravity, which is solved surprisingly easily once a good quantum foundations solution is in hand. It is solved not in the Planck regime, but in the testable regime of classical general relativity. The two great theories are intermeshed, and proposed testable solutions for the dark matter conundrum and origin of inertia are set forth. Both depend on non-local gravitational sourcing via P-state. The overall result is a robust architectural foundation for a (still elusive) Theory of Everything.
This volume presents a comprehensive realist framework encompassing quantum foundations, quantum gravity, and the origin of inertia (Mach's Principle). It develops and builds upon a quantum ontology consisting of two fundamental ontic entities, called W-state and P-state, that respectively account for the wave- and particle-like aspects of quantum systems. W-state is a generalization of the wavefunction, but has ontic stature and is defined on the joint time-frequency domain. It constitutes a non-classical local reality, consisting of superpositions of quantum waves writ small. P-state enforces entanglement obligations and mediates the global coordination within quantum systems required to bring about wavefunction collapse in causal fashion consistent with special relativity. Quantum theory is rebuilt from the ground up, and the development then proceeds to quantum gravity, which is solved surprisingly easily once a good quantum foundations solution is in hand. It is solved not in the Planck regime, but in the testable regime of classical general relativity. The two great theories are intermeshed, and proposed testable solutions for the dark matter conundrum and origin of inertia are set forth. Both depend on non-local gravitational sourcing via P-state. The overall result is a robust architectural foundation for a (still elusive) Theory of Everything.
This volume builds upon and continues development of the realist quantum framework (RQF), introduced and developed in https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5920722, https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6194219, and zenodo.org/records/20581089. The RQF is based on a quantum ontology consisting of two fundamental ontic entities, called W-state and P-state, that respectively account for the wave- and particle-like aspects of quantum systems. W-state is wave-like, local, physical state, embodying the physicality of matter-energy, whereas P-state is particle-like, global, informational state, mediating entanglement effects and particle holism. The previous work focused principally on the theoretical minimum of W-state and P-state (i.e., showing how the two separate realms of reality can interoperate to produce non-local entanglement effects fully compliant with the causal structure and no-signaling stricture of special relativity) and the detailed structure of W-state (leptons, neutrinos, and quarks). This paper extends the RQF to cosmology, addressing the key topics of quantum gravity, origin of inertia, and phasal polarity (matter and anti-matter). It offers an Analysis of Alternatives that was historically lacking in the acceptance of Lemaitre's primeval atom.
The RQF is primarily a quantum foundations solution. Its chief motivation is to answer basic story-telling questions about Nature that the last 125 years have been unable to answer, owing to foundational disarray stemming from the conceptual intractability that has pervaded quantum physics. The RQF is all about the what, where, when, and how of quantum physics, as it plays out in the space-time arena of special and general relativity. It is based on a quantum ontology consisting of two fundamental ontic entities, called W-state and P-state, that respectively account for the wave- and particle-like aspects of quantum systems. W-state is wave-like, local, physical state, embodying the physicality of matter-energy, whereas P-state is particle-like, global, informational state, mediating entanglement effects and particle holism. Historically, the single most difficult challenge of putting quantum theory on a realist footing has been to provide mechanistic explanation of how weak non-locality, manifest in entanglement phenomenology, can be squared with the no-signaling stricture of special relativity (SR). The challenge is so centrally important to making sense of quantum physics that the theoretical minimum of the RQF is dedicated exclusively to addressing and resolving it. Work to date consists of four papers: [1] The pilot paper (https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5920722) focuses principally on quantum foundations and the theoretical minimum of W-state and P-state, showing how the two separate realms of reality can interoperate to produce non-local entanglement effects fully compliant with the causal structure and no-signaling stricture of special relativity. [2] https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6194219 is a shorter paper, identifying multi-situationality, not probability, as the central metaphor of quantum physics. Multi-situationality signifies the facet of physical reality that permits two or more situations to coexist, despite their being mutually incompatible by all classical reckoning. The RQF interprets the uncertainty principle as a mandate for a minimal level of multi-situationality in quantum systems. [3] zenodo.org/records/20581089 elaborates on the detailed structure of W-state, which is the structure of elementary particle matter in the Standard Model: leptons, neutrinos, and quarks. Quantum theory and the core subject matter of nuclear physics are rebuilt from the ground up in the new realist framework. [4] zenodo.org/records/20671848 extends the RQF to cosmology, addressing the key topics of quantum gravity, origin of inertia, and phasal polarity (matter and anti-matter). It offers an Analysis of Alternatives that was historically lacking in the acceptance of Lemaitre's primeval atom.
The RQF is primarily a quantum foundations solution. Its chief motivation is to answer basic story-telling questions about Nature that the last 125 years have been unable to answer, owing to foundational disarray stemming from the conceptual intractability that has pervaded quantum physics. The RQF is all about the what, where, when, and how of quantum physics, as it plays out in space-time arena of special and general relativity. It is based on a quantum ontology consisting of two fundamental ontic entities, called W-state and P-state, that respectively account for the wave- and particle-like aspects of quantum systems. W-state is wave-like, local, physical state, embodying the physicality of matter-energy, whereas P-state is particle-like, global, informational state, mediating entanglement effects and particle holism. Historically, the single most difficult challenge of putting quantum theory on a realist footing has been to provide mechanistic explanation of how weak non-locality, manifest in entanglement phenomenology, can be squared with the no-signaling stricture of special relativity (SR). The challenge is so centrally important to making sense of quantum physics that the theoretical minimum of the RQF is dedicated exclusively to addressing and resolving it. Work to date consists of four papers: [1] The pilot paper (https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5920722) focuses principally on quantum foundations and the theoretical minimum of W-state and P-state, showing how the two separate realms of reality can interoperate to produce non-local entanglement effects fully compliant with the causal structure and no-signaling stricture of special relativity. [2] https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6194219 is a shorter paper, identifying multi-situationality, not probability, as the central metaphor of quantum physics. Multi-situationality signifies the facet of physical reality that permits two or more situations to coexist, despite their being mutually incompatible by all classical reckoning. The RQF interprets the uncertainty principle as a mandate for a minimal level of multi-situationality in quantum systems. [3] zenodo.org/records/20581089 elaborates on the detailed structure of W-state, which is the structure of elementary particle matter in the Standard Model: leptons, neutrinos, and quarks. Quantum theory and the core subject matter of nuclear physics are rebuilt from the ground up in the new realist framework. [4] zenodo.org/records/20671848 extends the RQF to cosmology, addressing the key topics of quantum gravity, origin of inertia, and phasal polarity (matter and anti-matter). It offers an Analysis of Alternatives that was historically lacking in the acceptance of Lemaitre's primeval atom.
This volume builds upon and continues development of the realist quantum framework (RQF), introduced and developed in https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5920722 and https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.6194219.The RQF is based on a quantum ontology consisting of two fundamental ontic entities, called W-state and P-state, that respectively account for the wave- and particle-like aspects of quantum systems.W-state is wave-like, local, physical state, embodying the physicality of matter-energy, whereas P-state is particle-like, global, informational state, mediating entanglement effects and particle holism. The previous work focused principally on the theoretical minimum of W-state and P-state, showing how the two separate realms of reality can interoperate to produce non-local entanglement effects fully compliant with the causal structure and no-signaling stricture of special relativity. This new work focuses on the detailed structure of W-state, which is the structure of elementary particle matter in the SM: leptons, neutrinos, and quarks. Quantum theory and the core subject matter of nuclear physics is rebuilt from the ground up in the new realist framework.
A new law of physics is proposed, defined on the cosmological scale but with significant implications for the microscale. Motivated by nonlinear dynamical systems theory and black-hole thermodynamics, the Invariant Set Postulate proposes that cosmological states of physical reality belong to a non-computable fractal state-space geometry I , invariant under the action of some subordinate deterministic causal dynamics D I . An exploratory analysis is made of a possible causal realistic framework for quantum physics based on key properties of I . For example, sparseness is used to relate generic counterfactual states to points p ∉ I of unreality, thus providing a geometric basis for the essential contextuality of quantum physics and the role of the abstract Hilbert Space in quantum theory. Also, self-similarity, described in a symbolic setting, provides a possible realistic perspective on the essential role of complex numbers and quaternions in quantum theory. A new interpretation is given to the standard ‘mysteries’ of quantum theory: superposition, measurement, non-locality, emergence of classicality and so on. It is proposed that heterogeneities in the fractal geometry of I are manifestations of the phenomenon of gravity. Since quantum theory is inherently blind to the existence of such state-space geometries, the analysis here suggests that attempts to formulate unified theories of physics within a conventional quantum-theoretic framework are misguided, and that a successful quantum theory of gravity should unify the causal non-Euclidean geometry of space–time with the atemporal fractal geometry of state space. The task is not to make sense of the quantum axioms by heaping more structure, more definitions, more science fiction imagery on top of them, but to throw them away wholesale and start afresh. We should be relentless in asking ourselves: From what deep physical principles might we derive this exquisite structure? These principles should be crisp, they should be compelling. They should stir the soul. Chris Fuchs ( Gilder 2008 , p. 335)
Abstract Wavefunctions are central to quantum mechanics, yet their ontological status remains one of the most debated questions in physics. This volume, within the Informational Constraints Quantum Event Realism (ICQER) framework, proposes a novel reinterpretation of wavefunctions as superpositions of informational constraint patterns distributed across quantum event networks. Moving beyond traditional views of the wavefunction as a mere probability amplitude or abstract mathematical tool, we develop a rigorous framework in which quantum states emerge from the coherent overlap and interplay of constraints that govern allowable event configurations. We establish the mathematical formalism for representing constraints as vectors in an event Hilbert space, constructing wavefunctions as linear combinations of constraint patterns with complex amplitude coefficients. Within this framework, measurement corresponds to the selective enforcement of constraints through projection operators, providing a natural, physical mechanism for wavefunction collapse that does not require observer intervention. Quantum dynamics, governed by the Schrödinger equation, is reinterpreted as the unitary propagation of constraint patterns through the event network, preserving coherence and enabling interference, entanglement, and other hallmark quantum phenomena. The constraint-based perspective resolves foundational puzzles including wave-particle duality, the measurement problem, and quantum nonlocality, while grounding the wavefunction in an objective, realist informational structure. We further explore the connection between quantum constraints and gravitational constraints within the Universal Constraint Gravity (UGC) framework, advancing a unified constraint-based foundation for physics across scales. This volume establishes wavefunctions as distributed informational structures that define quantum reality at its most fundamental level, opening new avenues for foundational research, quantum computation, and the unification of quantum mechanics with gravity.