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Related papers: Consistent Descriptions of Quantum Measurement

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We discuss the status of relative facts - the central concept of Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) - in the context of the new amendment to RQM called cross-perspective links postulate. The new axiom states that by a proper measurement one…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2024-01-04 Marcin Markiewicz , Marek Żukowski

In a recent no-go theorem [Bong et al, Nature Physics (2020)], we proved that the predictions of unitary quantum mechanics for an extended Wigner's friend scenario are incompatible with any theory satisfying three metaphysical assumptions,…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2021-03-25 Eric G. Cavalcanti

A recent no-go theorem gives an extension of the Wigner's friend argument that purports to prove that "Quantum theory cannot consistently describe the use of itself." The argument is complex and thought provoking, but fails in a…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2020-03-18 Anthony Rizzi

There has been an upsurge of interest in the consequences for quantum physics of the so-called Wigner's Friend Paradox. In its original formulation, the paradox has been turned inside out, and virtually every aspect of it has been looked…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2026-05-28 Julio C. F. Silva , B. F. Rizzuti , Cristhiano Duarte

In a joint paper Jeff Bub and Itamar Pitowski argued that the quantum state represents `the credence function of a rational agent [...] who is updating probabilities on the basis of events that occur'. In the famous thought experiment…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-02-01 Veronika Baumann , Časlav Brukner

Recent arguments, involving entangled systems shared by sets of Wigner's friend arrangements, allegedly show that the assumption that the experiments performed by the friends yield definite outcomes, is incompatible with quantum…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-01-20 Elias Okon

The Wigner's Friend (WF) thought experiment concerns quantum measurements by a 'superobserver' of an observer measuring a quantum system. Variations on the setup and its extended versions have seen a resurgence in recent years, in light of…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2025-07-30 Tom Rivlin , Sophie Engineer , Veronika Baumann

Quantum mechanics is one of our most successful physical theories; its predictions agree with experimental observations to an extremely high accuracy. However, the bare formalism of quantum theory does not provide straightforward answers to…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2021-06-11 Nuriya Nurgalieva , Renato Renner

Wigner's Friend scenarios push the boundaries of quantum theory by modeling agents, along with their memories storing measurement outcomes, as physical quantum systems. Extending these ideas beyond quantum theory, we ask: in which physical…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2025-10-08 Nuriya Nurgalieva , V. Vilasini

The relational approach to quantum states asserts that the physical description of quantum systems is always relative to something or someone. In relational quantum mechanics (RQM) it is relative to other quantum systems, in the…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2021-07-09 Časlav Brukner

The place and role of an Observer in quantum mechanics has been a subject of an ongoing debate since the theory's inception. Wigner brought this question to the fore in a celebrated scenario in which a super-Observer observes a Friend…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2020-09-14 A. Matzkin , D. Sokolovski

We introduce a software package that allows users to design and run simulations of thought experiments in quantum theory. In particular, it covers cases where several reasoning agents are modelled as quantum systems, such as Wigner's friend…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-09-15 Nuriya Nurgalieva , Simon Mathis , Lídia del Rio , Renato Renner

The so-called measurement problem of quantum theory (QT) is still lacking a satisfactory, or at least widely agreed upon, solution. A number of theories, known as interpretations of quantum theory, have been proposed and found differing…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2016-11-26 Hans H. Diel

We take a fresh look at Wigner's Friend thought-experiment and some of its more recent variants and extensions, such as the Frauchiger-Renner (FR) Paradox. We discuss various solutions proposed in the literature, focusing on a few…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2024-04-09 Alexandru Baltag , Sonja Smets

The original Wigner's friend paradox is a gedankenexperiment involving an observer described by an external agent. The paradox highlights the tension between unitary evolution and collapse in quantum theory, and is sometimes taken as…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2021-10-22 Matteo Lostaglio , Joseph Bowles

Recently, a delicately designed Gedankenexperiment was proposed to check the self-consistence of quantum theory in the description of the agents who are using this theory. It was demonstrated that the quantum theory is inconsistent. Here a…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-03-19 Liang Chen , Ye-Qi Zhang

It is generally agreed that decoherence theory is, if not a complete answer, at least a great step forward towards a solution of the quantum measurement problem. It is shown here however that in the cases in which a sentient being is…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2009-11-10 Bernard d'Espagnat

Recent experiments (gedanken or otherwise) and theorems in quantum mechanics (QM), such as new iterations on Wigner's friend and delayed choice, have led many people to claim that QM is not compatible with determinate and intersubjectively…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2020-10-05 Michael Silberstein , W. M. Stuckey

Extended Wigner's Friend Scenarios (EWFSs) go beyond the standard usage of quantum theory, where agents are treated classically, and instead model agents as unitary evolving quantum systems. This has been the subject of several no-go…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2024-11-12 V. Vilasini , Mischa P. Woods

Wigner's Friend-type paradoxes challenge the assumption that events are absolute -- that when we measure a system, we obtain a single result, which is not relative to anything or anyone else. These paradoxes highlight the tension between…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2026-04-23 Sumit Mukherjee , Jonte R. Hance