[论文解读] Modeling observers as physical systems representing the world from within: Quantum theory as a physical and self-referential theory of inference

John Realpe-Gómez|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jan 1, 2018

Quantum Mechanics and Applications参考文献 155被引用 3

一句话总结

本文提出量子理论源于两个原理：(1) 观察者嵌入实验中的推断作为物理过程，导致非对易性和虚时演化；(2) 第一视角描述，引入自指、互补性和实时时量子演化。核心贡献是一个统一框架，通过自指推理将量子基础、意识与物理观测联系起来。

ABSTRACT

In 1929 Szilard pointed out that the physics of the observer may play a role in the analysis of experiments. The same year, Bohr pointed out that complementarity appears to arise naturally in psychology where both the objects of perception and the perceiving subject belong to 'our mental content'. Here we argue that the formalism of quantum theory can be derived from two related intuitive principles: (i) inference is a physical process performed by physical systems, observers, which are part of the experimental setup---this implies non-commutativity and imaginary-time quantum mechanics; (ii) experiments must be described from a first-person perspective---this leads to self-reference, complementarity, and real-time quantum dynamics. This approach sheds new light on the foundations of quantum theory and suggests fundamental equations in physics are typically of second order due to the physical nature of the observer. It also suggests some experimental conjectures: (i) the quantum of action could be understood as the result of the additional energy required to transition from unconscious to conscious perception; (ii) humans can observe a single photon of visible light; (iii) self-aware systems and the neural correlates of the self should be composed of two complementary sub-systems, much like the DNA molecule is composed of two strands---this may help explain the double-hemisphere architecture of the brain. Moreover, this approach may help bridge the gap between science and human experience. We discuss the potential implications of these ideas for the modern research programs on consciousness and contemplative science. As side results: (i) we show that message-passing algorithms and stochastic processes can be written in a quantum-like manner; (ii) we provide evidence that non-stoquasticity, a quantum computational resource, may be related to non-equilibrium phenomena.

研究动机与目标

• 通过将观察者建模为嵌入实验中的物理系统，解决量子理论中的基础性缺口。
• 通过将推断视为观察者在实验装置内部执行的物理过程，解决测量问题。
• 通过意识观察者的主观视角，解释量子力学中的互补性与自指性。
• 通过将量子理论建立在物理的、自指的推理基础上，弥合量子物理与主观人类经验之间的鸿沟。
• 提出可检验的猜想，将量子现象与意识、神经架构及信息处理联系起来。

提出的方法

• 从两个核心原理推导出量子形式体系：观察者的物理推理与实验的第一人称描述。
• 将观察者建模为执行推理的物理系统，导致非对易可观测量和虚时演化。
• 通过第一人称视角引入自指，生成互补性与实时时量子动力学。
• 利用自指逻辑解释量子叠加与测量坍缩作为物理过程的涌现。
• 将该框架应用于消息传递算法与随机过程，表明它们可被表达为类量子形式。
• 通过观察者在推理中的作用，将量子计算中的非稳态性与非平衡物理现象联系起来。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 如何从观察者嵌入实验中的物理推理原则推导出量子理论？
• RQ2 第一人称视角中的自指在生成互补性与实时时量子动力学中起什么作用？
• RQ3 作用量的量子是否可解释为从无意识感知过渡到意识感知的能量成本？
• RQ4 自知系统与意识的神经相关物是否需要两个互补的子系统，类似于DNA的双螺旋结构？
• RQ5 观察者的物理本质如何导致基础物理中的二阶方程？

主要发现

• 量子理论的形式体系可从观察者的物理推理与第一人称视角中推导而出。
• 非对易性与虚时量子力学自然地从观察者实施推理的物理实现中涌现。
• 实时时量子动力学与互补性源于观察者主观视角对实验的自指性描述。
• 本文猜想人类可探测单个可见光子，将量子观测与意识感知联系起来。
• 自知系统与意识的神经相关物可能由两个互补的子系统构成，或可解释大脑的左右结构。
• 量子计算中的非稳态性可能通过观察者在推理中的作用，从根本上与非平衡物理过程相联系。