Very simple explanation of Wigner's friend needed

In summary, Wigner's friend thought experiment is a famous thought experiment proposed by physicist Eugene Wigner in 1961 to illustrate the concept of quantum entanglement and its implications on the measurement process in quantum mechanics. It involves two friends, Wigner and his friend, placed in separate rooms where one conducts a measurement on a quantum system while the other observes from outside. This experiment challenges our understanding of reality by highlighting the role of the observer in determining the outcome of a quantum measurement. It is significant in quantum mechanics as it raises important questions about the nature of reality and demonstrates the concept of quantum entanglement. Additionally, it has been applied in various real-life scenarios and has been used to develop new theories and interpretations of quantum mechanics.
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Hi, just browsed through some news stories and saw a story about a group of researchers who seemed to prove we can experience very different realities. I was just wondering if anyone could provide a simple explanation of their experiment and what they did? Do we really live in different realities?
 
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1. What is Wigner's friend thought experiment?

Wigner's friend thought experiment is a famous concept in quantum mechanics proposed by physicist Eugene Wigner in the 1960s. It involves a scenario where a scientist, Wigner, performs an experiment on a quantum system while his friend, who is outside the laboratory, observes the results. This experiment raises questions about the role of observation and measurement in quantum mechanics.

2. What is the main idea behind Wigner's friend thought experiment?

The main idea behind Wigner's friend thought experiment is to highlight the paradoxical nature of quantum mechanics, where a quantum system can exist in multiple states at the same time until it is observed or measured. The experiment raises questions about the role of the observer and the collapse of the wave function.

3. How does Wigner's friend thought experiment challenge our understanding of reality?

Wigner's friend thought experiment challenges our understanding of reality by questioning the traditional view that an event only occurs when it is observed. In this experiment, the observer's perception of reality is different from the scientist's perception, leading to the question of whose perception is the "true" reality.

4. What are some interpretations of Wigner's friend thought experiment?

There are several interpretations of Wigner's friend thought experiment, including the Copenhagen interpretation, which states that the act of measurement causes the wave function to collapse, and the Many-Worlds interpretation, which suggests that all possible outcomes of a quantum event exist in parallel universes.

5. How does Wigner's friend thought experiment relate to the concept of superposition?

Wigner's friend thought experiment relates to the concept of superposition by demonstrating how a quantum system can exist in multiple states at the same time until it is observed or measured. This is the basis of the superposition principle in quantum mechanics, which states that a particle can exist in all possible states simultaneously until it is observed or measured, at which point it collapses into a single state.

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