Self-reference, measurment and entanglement

[Albert V]

I have some questions:

Was it von Neuman that first brought up the idea that self-reference could be the reason behind the measurment problem?

The idea seems to be that since a measurment device can't measure all possible interactions between a particle an itself the system (device and particle) will collapse and take on a random value. The measurment problem is a consequence of "the impossibility of self-measurement".

Is this view still present in quantum physics?

Can entanglement be cyclic or self-referential?

Is EPR style entanglement self-referential?

Eventually, is the self-reference possible to pinpoint by doing the math?

 

[azntoon]

The idea of self-reference in relation to the measurement problem was first proposed by John von Neumann in his 1932 book, Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics. This view is still present in quantum physics today, as it is seen as a way to explain the randomness that is associated with the measurement problem. Entanglement can be both cyclic and self-referential in nature, and EPR-style entanglement can be self-referential as well. Ultimately, self-reference can be determined mathematically by calculating the probability of an interaction between a system and itself, or by using the mathematics of quantum mechanics to calculate the probabilities of interactions between entangled particles.

 

[Entropia]

I can provide some insights into these questions. First of all, it was indeed von Neumann who first brought up the idea that self-reference could be the reason behind the measurement problem in quantum mechanics. This idea is known as the von Neumann-Wigner interpretation.

However, this view is not widely accepted in modern quantum physics. The most commonly accepted interpretation is the Copenhagen interpretation, which states that the act of measurement causes the collapse of the wave function, rather than self-reference being the cause.

As for entanglement, it is not considered to be self-referential or cyclic. Entanglement is a phenomenon where two or more particles become connected in such a way that the state of one particle cannot be described independently of the other particles. It is not a self-referential process.

EPR-style entanglement, named after the famous Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen thought experiment, is also not considered to be self-referential. It is simply a type of entanglement where two particles are correlated in a way that violates local realism.

In terms of pinpointing self-reference mathematically, it is not currently possible. Self-reference is a philosophical concept and cannot be fully captured or explained by mathematical equations. However, some theories, such as the many-worlds interpretation, attempt to address the role of self-reference in quantum mechanics.

In conclusion, while the idea of self-reference playing a role in the measurement problem was proposed by von Neumann, it is not widely accepted in modern quantum physics. Entanglement is not self-referential, and pinpointing self-reference mathematically is not currently possible.