Science in a Very Large Universe
High Energy Physics - Theory
2013-05-29 v3 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract
As observers of the universe we are quantum physical systems within it. If the universe is very large in space and/or time, the probability becomes significant that the data on which we base predictions is replicated at other locations in spacetime. The physical conditions at these locations that are not specified by the data may differ. Predictions of our future observations therefore require an assumed probability distribution (the xerographic distribution) for our location among the possible ones. It is the combination of basic theory plus the xerographic distribution that can be predictive and testable by further observations.
Cite
@article{arxiv.0906.0042,
title = {Science in a Very Large Universe},
author = {Mark Srednicki and James Hartle},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0906.0042},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
14 pages, revised and expanded in v2, correction to App. A (suggested by D. Page) in v3