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Cited by 37Black Holes and Theoretical PhysicsQuantum Mechanics and ApplicationsNoncommutative and Quantum Gravity Theories

The Physical Meaning of the Holographic Principle

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Fields, Chris, Glazebrook, James F., Marcianò, Antonino·2022·Quanta
DOI 10.12743/quanta.v11i1.206
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Abstract

We show in this pedagogical review that far from being an apparent law of physics that stands by itself, the holographic principle is a straightforward consequence of the quantum information theory of separable systems. It provides a basis for the theories of measurement, time, and scattering. Utilizing the notion of holographic screens, which are information encoding boundaries between physical subsystems, we demonstrate that the physical interaction is an information exchange during which information is strictly conserved. Then we use generalized holographic principle in order to flesh out a fully-general quantum theory of measurement in which the measurement produces finite-resolution, classical outcomes. Further, we show that the measurements are given meaning by quantum reference frames and sequential measurements induce topological quantum field theories. Finally, we discuss principles equivalent to the holographic principle, including Markov blankets and the free-energy principle in biology, multiple realizability and virtual machines in computer science, and active inference and interface theories in cognitive science. This appearance in multiple disciplines suggests that the holographic principle is not just a fundamental principle of physics, but of all of science. Quanta 2022; 11: 72–96.

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  • Proposals such as dS/CFT, the covariant entropy bound, and light-sheet constructions have been developed to extend holographic reasoning to cosmological settings where a clear boundary theory may be absent.

    “Proposals like the dS/CFT correspondence, the covariant entropy bound, and light-sheet constructions have been developed to extend holographic reasoning to cosmological settings, where a clear boundary theory may be absent (Fields et al. 2022).”

    From Holographic Principle Applications to Cosmology (2025) · cites this paper as Fields et al. 2022

    The Introduction (page unavailable) mentions dS/CFT and describes Bousso’s covariant entropy bound in terms of light-sheets. It does not say these proposals were developed for cosmological settings where a clear boundary theory may be absent. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Research works printed but not linked: 5

  1. C. A. Fuchs. QBism, the perimeter of quantum Bayesianism 2010; arXiv:1003.5209. · arXiv
  2. E. Schrödinger. The present situation in quantum mechanics. in: J. A. Wheeler, W. H. Zurek (Eds.), Quantum Theory and Measurement. Princeton Se- ries in Physics. Princeton University Press, Prince- ton, New Jersey, 1983. pp. 152-167.
  3. V. R. Pratt. Chu spaces. in: M. Sobral, M. M. Clementino, J. Picado, L. Sousa (Eds.), School on Category Theory and Applications, University of Coimbra, July 13-17, 1999.
  4. M. F. Atiyah. Topological quantum field the- ory. Publications Mathématiques de l'IH ÉS 1988; 68:175-186. http://www.numdam.org/ item/PMIHES_1988__68__175_0/. Zbl:0692. 53053. MR:1001453.
  5. J. A. Wheeler. Law without law. in: J. A. Wheeler, W. H. Zurek (Eds.), Quantum Theory and Mea- surement. Princeton Series in Physics. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1983. pp. 182-213.

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Authors
Fields, C., Glazebrook, J. F., & Marcianò, A.
Affiliations
  • Tufts University (US)
  • Eastern Illinois University (US)
  • Fudan University (CN)
ORCID
Venue
Quanta
Publisher
Quanta
Published
2022-11-21
Volume
11
Pages
72-96
ISSN
1314-7374 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.12743/quanta.v11i1.206
OpenAlex
W4309529185
Cited by
37
References
126
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Quanta (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Quanta (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • arXiv (Cornell University)
Funders
  • John Templeton Foundation (IDH1512092/001, 11875113, KBH1512299, JJH1512105)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (JJH1512105, 11875113, KBH1512299, IDH1512092/001)
  • Fudan University (11875113, JJH1512105, KBH1512299, IDH1512092/001)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Nuclear and High Energy Physics › Black Holes and Theoretical Physics
  • 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
Keywords
holographic principle, quantum information, holographic screen, quantum measurement, information conservation, quantum reference frames, topological field theory, Markov blanket, free energy principle, multiple realizability, virtual machines, active inference, time

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