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Related papers: Stable Facts, Relative Facts

200 papers

A controversy that has arisen many times over in disparate contexts is whether quantum coherences between eigenstates of certain quantities are fact or fiction. We present a pedagogical introduction to the debate in the form of a…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2014-11-18 Stephen D. Bartlett , Terry Rudolph , Robert W. Spekkens

Does quantum theory apply at all scales, including that of observers? New light on this fundamental question has recently been shed through a resurgence of interest in the long-standing Wigner's friend paradox. This is a thought experiment…

Quantum mechanics has transformed our understanding of reality, yet deep philosophical puzzles remain unresolved. Is there a consistent way to describe quantum measurement, the emergence of space and time, and the role of observers within…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2025-07-24 Arash E. Zaghi

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

A new notion of independence relation is given and associated to it, the class of flat theories, a subclass of strong stable theories including the superstable ones is introduced. More precisely, after introducing this independence…

Logic · Mathematics 2018-04-18 Daniel Palacín , Saharon Shelah

Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) treats quantum states as observer-dependent facts rather than absolute properties. While this relational stance is conceptually attractive, it raises concerns about empirical confirmation, particularly in…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2026-03-05 Bethany Terris

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

Although time is one of our most intuitive physical concepts, its understanding at the fundamental level is still an open question in physics. For instance, time in quantum mechanics and general relativity are two distinct and incompatible…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2021-01-27 Eduardo O. Dias

Decoherence may not solve all of the measurement problems of quantum mechanics. It is proposed that a solution to these problems may be to allow that superpositions describe physically real systems in the following sense. Each quantum…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-05-23 Paul Merriam

Starting with a consideration of the implication of Bell inequalities in quantum mechanics, a new quantum postulate is suggested in order to restore classical locality and causality to quantum physics: only the relative coordinates between…

General Physics · Physics 2023-02-22 Michael Spanner

In modern physics only relative quantities are considered to have physical significance. For example, position assigned to a system depends on the choice of coordinates, and only relative distances between different systems have physical…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2018-09-14 Magdalena Zych , Fabio Costa , Timothy C. Ralph

The fundamental physical theories that interpret and explain behaviour of matter in nature are dependent on several unobservables and insensibles in their construction. While a rigorous natural philosophy cannot take them for granted, there…

History and Philosophy of Physics · Physics 2020-01-29 C. S. Unnikrishnan

In this paper we consider theories in which reality is described by some underlying variables. Each value these variables can take represents an ontic state (a particular state of reality). The preparation of a quantum state corresponds to…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2015-06-05 Lucien Hardy

It is argued that realism and true randomness are fully compatible. Realistic true random events are acts of pure creation that obey strict laws, but do not necessarily satisfy Kolmogorov's axioms of probabilities. Realistic true randomness…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2010-12-14 Nicolas Gisin

The Einstein relation, relating the steady state fluctuation properties to the linear response to a perturbation, is considered for steady states of stochastic models with a finite state space. We show how an Einstein relation always holds…

Statistical Mechanics · Physics 2007-05-23 T. Hanney , M. R. Evans

Despite the unparalleled accuracy of quantum-theoretical predictions across an enormous range of phenomena, the theory's foundations are still in doubt. The theory deviates radically from classical physics, predicts counterintuitive…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-06-14 Art Hobson

Shannon's notion of relative information between two physical systems can function as foundation for statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics, without referring to subjectivism or idealism. It can also represent a key missing element in…

High Energy Physics - Theory · Physics 2016-01-21 Carlo Rovelli

A characteristical property of a classical physical theory is that the observables are real functions taking an exact outcome on every (pure) state; in a quantum theory, at the contrary, a given observable on a given state can take several…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2015-06-26 Antonio Cassa

The mathematical description of stable particle-like systems appearing in relativistic quantum field theory at large, respectively small scales or non-zero temperatures is discussed.

High Energy Physics - Theory · Physics 2007-05-23 Detlev Buchholz

It is argued that quantum mechanics follows naturally from the assumptions that there are no fundamental causal laws but only probabilities for physical processes that are constrained by symmetries, and reality is relational in the sense…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2014-11-18 Jeeva Anandan