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Schr dinger's Cat: Research on the Radical Subjective Solution of the Measurement Problem. Dick Bierman & Stephen Whitmarsh, University of Amsterdam – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Schr


1
Schrödinger's Cat Research on the Radical
Subjective Solution of the Measurement Problem.
Dick Bierman Stephen Whitmarsh, University of
Amsterdam Presented at QuantumMind, Salzburg,
July 15-21, 2007
2
Projection Postulate
  • Quantum Physics Potentialities
  • Classical Physics Reality

3
Projection Postulate
  • Quantum Physics Potentialities
  • Classical Physics Reality

Collapse of wave function by what is commonly
called a measurement.
4
(No Transcript)
5
NO !!!!
6
Measurement problem
  • If the measurement is affecting the measured
  • it is extremely important to precisely define
    what
  • constitutes a measurement

7
Measurement problem
  • Definition 1
  • A measurement is something that you do with a
    measurement device.
  • Usable in the daily practice of physics,
  • but incorrect a problem!
  • (von Neumann)

8
Possible solutions
  • Many World solution (Everett)
  • Deterministic solution (Bohm)
  • Objective Reduction (Penrose)
  • Radical subjective solution (Wigner, Stapp)

9
Radical Solution
  • . The reduction of the state vector is a
    physical event which occurs only when there is an
    interaction between the physical measuring
    apparatus and the psyche of some observer..
  • Hall, J., Kim, C., McElroy, and Shimony, A.
    (1977).
  • Wave-packet reduction as a medium of
    communication.
  • Foundations of Physics 7 (1977), 759-767.

10
Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
11
Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
Decay
12
Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
50 of cases pre-observation
13
Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
1 µs delay
14
Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
(final) observation
15
Assumptions
  1. Consciousness of first observer collapses the
    state before second observation.
  2. Final Observer (brain) is sensitive for the
    difference between collapsed and non-collapsed
    state
  3. Final Observer can report this verbally
    (consciously)

16
Weaknesses in Hall, 1977
  • Assumption 1 is violated Delay between first and
    second observation too short (e.g. Libet, 1979).
  • Assumption 3 is inconsistent The dependent
    variable is a conscious verbal report, too late!
  • Libet et al. (1979) Subjective Referral of the
    Timing for a Conscious Sensory Experience. Brain
    102, 193-224.

17
Improvements in replication
  • Hall et al. 1977
  • Delay 1 µs
  • Dependent variable verbal report
  • Amsterdam 2003
  • Delay 1000 ms
  • Dependent variable brain signals

18
First Amsterdam setup
PRE-OBSERVER
OBSERVER
19
First Amsterdam setup
EEG measurement
Deadtime 2000ms
Delay 1000ms
Geiger Counter
OBSERVER
50
Radioactive source
PRE-OBSERVER
20
Analysis procedure
EEG trace
Preobserved beeps NOT preobserved beeps
OBSERVER
21
Analysis procedure
EEG trace
ERP
Average EEG from onset-time of event (beep)
22
Results first Amsterdam Setup
Bierman, D.J. (2003). Does Consciousness
Collapse the Wave-Packet? Mind and Matter 1(1),
pp. 45-57
23
Conclusions study 1
  • Radical Subjective Reduction supported
  • A quantum-measurement is only complete when
    acted upon by consciousness.
  • Copenhagen interpretation supported
  • The collapse of the wave packet occurs with
    measurement, creating reality from potentiality.
  • But wait!
  • Strong claims need strong evidence, so a second
    study was performed

24
Alternative explanations
  • Sensory Cueing (ultra sounds)
  • EM radiation
  • Chance

25
Improvements in replication
  • Amsterdam 2003
  • Audio Speakers
  • 16 EEG electrodes
  • Quantum source of measurement
  • Amsterdam 2004
  • Air-pressure headphones
  • 32 EEG electrodes
  • Quantum Classical source of measurement

26
Analysis procedure
  • So now weve got 4 different conditions

No pre-observer Pre-observer
Quantum ERP ERP
Classic ERP ERP
27
Hypothesis
  • Effects of pre-observation in pre-conscious
    time-interval (0 - 350 ms) replication of 2003
    experiment
  • No effects of pre-observation when source is
    Classic the state-vector should already be
    collapsed

28
Second Amsterdam setup
EEG measurement
Deadtime 2000ms
Geiger Counter
Delay 1000ms
50
Timed Delay
OBSERVER
PRE-OBSERVER
29
Second Amsterdam setup
EEG measurement
Deadtime 2000ms
Geiger Counter
Delay 1000ms
50
Timed Delay
OBSERVER
PRE-OBSERVER
30
Results
Bierman, D. J., Whitmarsh, S. (2006),
Consciousness and Quantum Physics Empirical
Research on the Subjective Reduction of the State
Vector. (Book Chapter) The Emerging Physics of
Consciousness, The Frontiers Collection.
Tuszynski, J. A. (Ed.).
31
Results
32
Results
  • No effects of pre-observation when source is
    Classic
  • No effects found of pre-observation (thus no
    direct replication of 2003 study)

No pre-observer Pre-observer
Quantum ERP ERP
Classic ERP ERP
33
Discussion (no effects of pre-observation)
  • Uncertainty about the stimulus-origin was
    introduced by the addition of a classical source
  • Conscious observation of the stimuli did not
    yield a definite measurement because it remained
    unknown what was actually measured (a quantum or
    a classic event)
  • So Subjective Collapse by the pre-observer was
    actually prevented!

34
Discussion (effect of quantum/singular source)
  • A different state of event stimuli was still
  • introduced (quantum/classical)
  • Since the pre-observer could not collapse the
    quantum state, the effect should still be seen on
    the final-observers EEG
  • Thats what we found!

35
Exploration Quantum/Classic
36
Exploration Quantum/Classic
37
Results
  • No effects of pre-observation when source was
    Classic
  • No effects found of pre-observation (thus no
    direct replication of 2003 study)
  • Effect of event-origin (quantum/classic) in
    final-observers brain signals!

No pre-observer Pre-observer
Quantum ERP ERP
Classic ERP ERP
38
Alternative explanations
  • Sensory Cueing (ultra sounds)
  • EM radiation
  • Chance
  • Differences in ISI / decay-time distribution
  • Shorter intervals with quantum vs. classical
    events post-hoc.

39
Conclusion
  • Although no direct replication of the 2003
    findings,
  • The second Amsterdam setup is still consistent
    with the subjective reduction solution of the
    measurement problem
  • But wait lets try to reconcile the two (effect
    of pre-observer classic source)

40
Reconciliation in third Adam setup
41
Sensitivities
  • Care was taken to maintain exactly the same
    time-distributions of the quantum and classical
    events.

42
Preliminary Results
  • Analysis done over only a fraction of intended
    number of subjects (20 out of 64).

43
Conclusion
  • The support for the idea that consciousness
    collapses the wave function has evaporated.
  • Initial results due to differences in decay-time
    distribution?
  • However, it could be that the assumptions
    underlying this approach are invalid
  • Consciousness may be not just observing, but
    measuring
  • We will find out!

44
Thank you for your attention.
45
Shape of difference waves
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