Consistency in the Description of Quantum Measurement: Quantum Theory Can Consistently Describe the Use of Itself
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Date
2021-07-05Type
- Working Paper
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Abstract
Recent extended formulations of the Wigner's friend thought experiment throw the measurement problem of quantum mechanics into sharper relief. Here I respond to an invitation by Renner to provide a consistent and concrete set of rules for quantum mechanics which can avoid the apparent paradox formulated by Frauchiger and Renner [Nat. Comm. 9, 3711 (2018)]. I propose a slight addition to standard textbook quantum mechanics, in the form of two rules, which avoids the paradox. The first specifies when a given quantum dynamics can be interpreted as a measurement. Potentially any dynamics can, but doing so depends on the context of other performed operations. The second requires that a joint context be used to determine whether several different dynamical evolutions can all be interpreted as measurement. The paradox is then avoided because not every participant in the Frauchiger-Renner thought experiment regards the stated dynamical descriptions of the experiment as measurements. Show more
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publishedExternal links
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arXivPages / Article No.
Publisher
Cornell UniversityOrganisational unit
03781 - Renner, Renato / Renner, Renato
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ETH Bibliography
yes
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