Can We Make Sense of Relational Quantum Mechanics?

Ruyant, Quentin

doi:10.1007/s10701-018-0156-1

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Three other approaches to the formalism can be helpful. More generally, the implications of the relational view for independent reality are neither clear nor straightforward [546,547]. Some relational views involve a sparse ontology of discrete events happening at interactions between what are assumed to be physical systems, rather than a fuller ontology, of permanent systems that have well defined properties at each moment of a continuous time [176].…”

Section: Other Useful Framework: Modal Relational and Logical Appromentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding quantum mechanics: a review and synthesis in precise language

Drummond¹

2019

Open Physics

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This review, of the understanding of quantum mechanics, is broad in scope, and aims to reflect enough of the literature to be representative of the current state of the subject. To enhance clarity, the main findings are presented in the form of a coherent synthesis of the reviewed sources. The review highlights core characteristics of quantum mechanics. One is statistical balance in the collective response of an ensemble of identically prepared systems, to differing measurement types. Another is that states are mathematical terms prescribing probability aspects of future events, relating to an ensemble of systems, in various situations. These characteristics then yield helpful insights on entanglement, measurement, and widely-discussed experiments and analyses. The review concludes by considering how these insights are supported, illustrated and developed by some specific approaches to understanding quantum mechanics. The review uses non-mathematical language precisely (terms defined) and rigorously (consistent meanings), and uses only such language. A theory more descriptive of independent reality than is quantum mechanics may yet be possible. One step in the pursuit of such a theory is to reach greater consensus on how to understand quantum mechanics. This review aims to contribute to achieving that greater consensus, and so to that pursuit.

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Section: Other Useful Framework: Modal Relational and Logical Appromentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding quantum mechanics: a review and synthesis in precise language

Drummond¹

2019

Open Physics

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“…The objective of this work is to carry out a thorough assessment of RQM (other works exploring RQM include Laudisa (2001); Norsen (2007); Brown (2009); Dieks (2009); van Fraassen (2010); Wood (2010); Dorato (2016); Candiotto (2017); Ruyant (2018); Laudisa (2019); Pienaar (2019); Calosi and Mariani (2020)). In particular, we first explore whether RQM is in fact able to solve the conceptual problems of standard quantum mechanics-and whether, while trying to do so, it stays clear of creating conceptual problems of its own.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Relational Quantum Mechanics

Muciño¹,

Okon²,

Sudarsky³

2021

Preprint

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Relational Quantum Mechanics (RQM) is a non-standard interpretation of quantum theory based on the idea of abolishing the notion of absolute states of systems, in favor of states of systems relative to other systems. Such a move is claimed to solve the conceptual problems of standard quantum mechanics. Moreover, RQM has been argued to account for all quantum correlations without invoking non-local effects and, in spite of embracing a fully relational stance, to successfully explain how different observers exchange information. In this work, we carry out a thorough assessment of RQM and its purported achievements. We find that it fails to address the conceptual problems of standard quantum mechanics, and that it leads to serious conceptual problems of its own. We also uncover as unwarranted the claims that RQM can correctly explain information exchange among observers, and that it accommodates all quantum correlations without invoking non-local influences. We conclude that RQM is unsuccessful in its attempt to provide a satisfactory understanding of the quantum world.

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“…The relational interpretation of quantum mechanics (RQM) was first proposed by Carlo Rovelli in 1996 [1] and has since been further developed by Rovelli and other authors [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. One of the most striking features of RQM is its adherence to the principle of relative facts: quantum events correspond to single, unique elements of reality which are relative to the observer who measures them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A quintet of quandaries: five no-go theorems for Relational Quantum Mechanics

Pienaar

2021

Preprint

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Relational quantum mechanics (RQM) proposes an ontology of relations between physical systems, where any system can serve as an 'observer' and any physical interaction between systems counts as a 'measurement'. Quantities take unique values spontaneously in these interactions, and the occurrence of such 'quantum events' is strictly relative to the observing system, making them 'relative facts'. The quantum state represents the objective information that one system has about another by virtue of correlations between their physical variables. The ontology of RQM thereby strives to uphold the universality and completeness of quantum theory, while at the same time maintaining that the actualization of each unique quantum event is a fundamental physical event. Can RQM sustain this precarious balancing act? Here we present five no-go theorems that imply it cannot; something has to give way.

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Can We Make Sense of Relational Quantum Mechanics?

Cited by 19 publications

References 18 publications

Understanding quantum mechanics: a review and synthesis in precise language

Understanding quantum mechanics: a review and synthesis in precise language

Assessing Relational Quantum Mechanics

A quintet of quandaries: five no-go theorems for Relational Quantum Mechanics

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