Deconstructing Wigner's density matrix concerning the mind-body question
Abstract
In honor of the centennial of Eugene Wigner’s birth, a possible interpretation is given of the density matrix appearing in his classic paper, “Remarks on the mind-body question.” It is argued that nearinstantaneous vanishing of the quantum coherences of the reduced density matrix of the measured object would occur either in the case of Wigner’s friend, or in the case of any complex measuring automaton (conscious or not) making the measurement.
- Publication:
-
Foundations of Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1023/A:1021087705367
- Bibcode:
- 2002FoPhL..15..287B
- Keywords:
-
- quantum mechanics;
- measurement;
- decoherence;
- density matrix;
- mind-body question;
- Wigner’
- s friend