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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
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Projection Postulate

• Quantum Physics Potentialities
• Classical Physics Reality

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Projection Postulate

• Quantum Physics Potentialities
• Classical Physics Reality

Collapse of wave function by what is commonly
called a measurement.
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(No Transcript)
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NO !!!!
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Measurement problem

• If the measurement is affecting the measured
• it is extremely important to precisely define
  what
• constitutes a measurement

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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)

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Possible solutions

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

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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.

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Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
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Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
Decay
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Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
50 of cases pre-observation
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Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
1 µs delay
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Experimental Setup Hall, 1977
(final) observation
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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)

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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.

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Improvements in replication

• Hall et al. 1977
• Delay 1 µs
• Dependent variable verbal report

• Amsterdam 2003
• Delay 1000 ms
• Dependent variable brain signals

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First Amsterdam setup
PRE-OBSERVER
OBSERVER
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First Amsterdam setup
EEG measurement
Deadtime 2000ms
Delay 1000ms
Geiger Counter
OBSERVER
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Radioactive source
PRE-OBSERVER
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Analysis procedure
EEG trace
Preobserved beeps NOT preobserved beeps
OBSERVER
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Analysis procedure
EEG trace
ERP
Average EEG from onset-time of event (beep)
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Results first Amsterdam Setup
Bierman, D.J. (2003). Does Consciousness
Collapse the Wave-Packet? Mind and Matter 1(1),
pp. 45-57
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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

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Alternative explanations

• Sensory Cueing (ultra sounds)
• EM radiation
• Chance

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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

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Analysis procedure

• So now weve got 4 different conditions

No pre-observer Pre-observer
Quantum ERP ERP
Classic ERP ERP
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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

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Second Amsterdam setup
EEG measurement
Deadtime 2000ms
Geiger Counter
Delay 1000ms
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Timed Delay
OBSERVER
PRE-OBSERVER
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Second Amsterdam setup
EEG measurement
Deadtime 2000ms
Geiger Counter
Delay 1000ms
50
Timed Delay
OBSERVER
PRE-OBSERVER
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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.).
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Results
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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
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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!

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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!

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Exploration Quantum/Classic
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Exploration Quantum/Classic
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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
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Alternative explanations

• Sensory Cueing (ultra sounds)
• EM radiation
• Chance
• Differences in ISI / decay-time distribution
• Shorter intervals with quantum vs. classical
  events post-hoc.

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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)

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Reconciliation in third Adam setup
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Sensitivities

• Care was taken to maintain exactly the same
  time-distributions of the quantum and classical
  events.

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Preliminary Results

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

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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!

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Thank you for your attention.
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Shape of difference waves