Delayed Choice Quantum Eraser Question

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The discussion centers on the concept of retrocausality in quantum mechanics, particularly in relation to the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment. Participants argue that while wave-particle duality allows for interference patterns without direct observation, it does not support the idea that future measurements can influence past events. The notion of retrocausality, often linked to John Cramer's transactional interpretation, is largely dismissed by the physics community due to the lack of empirical evidence and the potential contradictions it introduces. The conversation also highlights that while correlations exist between entangled particles, they do not permit faster-than-light communication or changes to past events. Overall, the consensus is that retrocausality remains a speculative idea without practical application in current quantum theory.
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  • #32
rkastner said:
you can find it here: http://transactionalinterpretation.org/

Scroll down a bit

I liked the PowerPoint presentation, Ruth. :smile: Nice job of delineating some of the differences between TI and CI.
 
  • #33
rkastner said:
you can find it here: http://transactionalinterpretation.org/
Scroll down a bit

Thanks Ruth, I'll take a look at the material in your website and let you know if I have questions or comments on it.
 
  • #34
Thanks Dr. Chinese! :)
 
  • #35
rkastner said:
Causality is a very slippery notion indeed. I do address this in Chapter 7 of my book.


Ruth, I have now read chapter 7. In it you say:
"As noted in Chapter 1, traditional approaches to measurement in quantum theory
inevitably end up needing to invoke an ‘observing consciousness’ in order to ‘collapse’
the wave function (or state vector) and bring about a determinate outcome, necessitating
speculative forays into psycho-physical parallelism"

I would like to understand if this means you see psycho-physical parallelism as a problematic concept and if this is so, why you think there is a problem with it.
Thanks.
 
  • #36
I view psycho-physical parallelism as problematic in the context of interpreting physical theory because it is so speculative, and because it does not appear to be based on any sort of physical theory. As Kent has noted, "we don't have a good theory of mind." In Chapter 1 I quote from Kent (2010): "“...the fact that we don't have a good theory of mind, even in classical physics, doesn't give us a free pass to conclude anything we please. That way lies scientific ruin: any physical theory is consistent with any observations if we can bridge any discrepancy by tacking on arbitrary assumptions about the link between mind states and physics.” (A. Kent, 2010, from Many Worlds? Everett, Quantum Theory, and Reality , p.21)
 

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