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Main Author: Steane, Andrew
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.08375
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_version_ 1866910203092402176
author Steane, Andrew
author_facet Steane, Andrew
contents The concept of an isolated system, and Frauchiger and Renner's extended `Wigner's friend' scenario are discussed. It is argued that: (i) it is questionable whether the approximation of the isolated system is valid when measurement-like processes are involved; (ii) one may infer, from Frauchiger and Renner's thought-experiment, and similar thought-experiments, that any interpretation of quantum theory involving *subjective collapse* fails; (iii) this does not distinguish single-world from many-world (relative-state) interpretations of quantum theory; (iv) reasoning from observations has to take into account the possible quantum-erasure of those observations if it is to be valid reasoning; (v) a single-world interpretation is valid if certain kinds of outcome are not quantum-erased in the future.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_08375
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The extended Wigner's friend, many- and single-worlds and reasoning from observation
Steane, Andrew
Quantum Physics
The concept of an isolated system, and Frauchiger and Renner's extended `Wigner's friend' scenario are discussed. It is argued that: (i) it is questionable whether the approximation of the isolated system is valid when measurement-like processes are involved; (ii) one may infer, from Frauchiger and Renner's thought-experiment, and similar thought-experiments, that any interpretation of quantum theory involving *subjective collapse* fails; (iii) this does not distinguish single-world from many-world (relative-state) interpretations of quantum theory; (iv) reasoning from observations has to take into account the possible quantum-erasure of those observations if it is to be valid reasoning; (v) a single-world interpretation is valid if certain kinds of outcome are not quantum-erased in the future.
title The extended Wigner's friend, many- and single-worlds and reasoning from observation
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.08375