‘Space is blue and birds fly through it’
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Quantum mechanics is not about ‘quantum states’: it is about values of physical variables. I give a short fresh presentation and update on the relational perspective on the theory, and a comment on its philosophical implications. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Foundations of quantum mechanics and their impact on contemporary society’.
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In Rovelli 2018 and Laudisa and Rovelli 2021, RQM can be thought of in terms of a set of 'quantum events' that occur relative to physical systems.
“we will largely focus on the version espoused in Rovelli (2018) and Laudisa and Rovelli (2021), which suggests we should think of RQM in terms of a set of 'quantum events' that occur relative to physical systems.”
From Information is Physical: Cross-Perspective Links in Relational Quantum Mechanics (2023) · cites this paper as Rovelli 2018
When two systems A, B interact, a 'quantum event' typically occurs in which the value of some variable V of system A becomes definite relative to system B.
“The idea is that when two systems A, B interact, a 'quantum event' typically occurs in which the value of some variable V of system A becomes definite relative to system B”
From Information is Physical: Cross-Perspective Links in Relational Quantum Mechanics (2023) · cites this paper as Rovelli 2018
It is not possible to calculate the distribution from something like the quantum state of the universe because in RQM quantum states are by definition relational, and there is nothing for the quantum state of the whole universe to be relativized to.
“Nor can we calculate the distribution from something like 'the quantum state of the universe,' since, as noted in Rovelli (2018), in RQM, quantum states are by definition relational, and there is nothing for the quantum state of the whole universe to be relativized to.”
From Information is Physical: Cross-Perspective Links in Relational Quantum Mechanics (2023) · cites this paper as Rovelli (2018)
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Cites
Rovelli, C. (2004) · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511755804 · Cited by 2,240 · see citing works
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Research works printed but not linked: 29
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
A Quintet of Quandaries: Five No-Go Theorems for Relational Quantum Mechanics
Pienaar, J. (2021) · Foundations of Physics · doi:10.1007/s10701-021-00500-6 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Information is Physical: Cross-Perspective Links in Relational Quantum Mechanics
Adlam, E., & Rovelli, C. (2023) · Philosophy of Physics · doi:10.31389/pop.8 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Rovelli, C.
- ORCID
- Rovelli, Carlo
- Venue
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2018-05-28
- Volume
- 376
- Issue
- 2123
- Pages
- 20170312
- ISSN
- 1364-503X (ISSN-L)
- 1471-2962
- OpenAlex
- W2772448258
- Cited by
- 76
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 5
- FWCI
- 4.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum Mechanics and Applications
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Noncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
- Keywords
- relational interpretation of quantum mechanics, physical variables, quantum states, quantum foundations, philosophy of physics
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