Thought Experiment: Frame of Reference and the One Mind Model of Quantum Reality
Mark Germine
and
Thomas J. Germinario
Institute for Psychoscience
P.O. Box 1654
Mount Shasta, CA USA 96067
"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us, "Universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness."
Albert Einstein
The One Mind Model is a model of quantum reality that holds that the quantum wave function is collapsed in consciousness, but that there is a single observer or One Mind, bringing about a unitary collapse regardless of referential framework. The model has been tested using event related potentials, which seem to indicate that collapse of the wave function by one observer is generalized to all observers (Germine, 2002; 2003; 2004).
The purpose of this thought experiment is to test the proposition that an individual observer can collapse the wave function of a quantum phenomenon independently of all other observers in the Universe. As a necessary corollary to this proposition, all subsequent observers would observe the state vector of the Universe as reduced by the initial observation.
My contention is that this proposition implicitly requires an absolute framework of Space-Time which is inconsistent with Special Relativity. In other words, the notion of an “initial” or “first” observer in all frames of reference cannot be squared with SR’s injunction against absolute simultaneity.
Let’s illustrate this by looking at the EPR-type experimental setup designed by Alain Aspect to test Bell’s Theorem, represented below.
S is a source of entangled photons. A calcium cascade emission sends a green photon to the left, toward polarizing cube A, and a blue photon to the right, toward polarizing cube B. In passing through their respective polarizing cubes, each of the photons will either be transmitted — in which case it will be detected at D+ as vertically polarized — or reflected — in which case it will be detected at D- as horizontally polarized.
If the angular orientations of polarizing cubes A and B are the same, then conservation of angular momentum requires that the observed polarizations of the green and blue photons be perfectly correlated. Therefore, a detection of the green photon in D+ would immediately reduce the entangled state vector of both photons to the [+ +] state, i.e. both photons vertically polarized. If, on the other hand, polarizing cubes A and B are oriented at different angles a and b, respectively, then the correlation of the polarization states of the two photons is given by the expectation value, E(a,b) = cos 2(b-a). Therefore, if polarizing cube B is rotated at an angle of 90º with respect to cube A, the result is E(a,b) = -1, which is perfect anti-correlation. In the later scenario, a detection of the green photon in D+ would immediately reduce the state vector to [+ −], i.e. green vertical and blue horizontal.
Now let’s make two changes to the Aspect experimental setup. First, we’ll have polarizing cube B rotate so that the angle b-a is rapidly changing. Next, let’s put the whole setup in a spaceship traveling to the right toward the Earth at great velocity — let’s say c/2. Now, if cubes A and B are located at equal distance d from the photon source, Observer #1 riding in the spaceship will see them arrive simultaneously at cubes A and B after d/c seconds. At that instant, let’s assume that the angle b-a is 0º , so Observer #1 must see the green and blue photons in the same polarization state, [+ +] or [− −].
But, applying Special Relativity, Observer #2 on the Earth will not see the green and blue photons arrive at cubes A and B simultaneously. He/she will instead observe the green photon to arrive at cube A first, after 2d/3c seconds. At that instant, let’s assume that the angle b-a is 90º, so Observer #2 will see the green and blue photons in opposite polarization states, [+ −] or [− +].
By extension, an Observer #3 on Saturn, with respect to which the spaceship is moving at a lesser velocity, will observe yet another mix of polarization states. In fact, every observer in the Universe will see something different, depending on their distance from the spaceship and their motion relative to it.
Unless we are willing to accept a solipsistic multiverse, it follows that SR rules out the notion of a “first observer” in all frames of reference and thus also rules out the scenario of an individual observer independently collapsing the wave function of a quantum phenomenon.
If, however, we assume that all observers are part of One Mind, then we may posit that each observer’s brain produces a superposition of brain states corresponding to the measurement eigenstates of his/her particular frame of reference. The change in the state vector of the Universe then unfolds and is transmitted to each individual observer through the One Mind.
References
Germine, M. (2002). Scientific validation of planetary consciousness. Journal of Non-Locality and Remote Mental Interactions. http://www.emergentmind.org/germineI3.htm
Germine, M. (2003) The One Mind Model: Virtual brain states and nonlocality of the ERP. Dynamical Psychology. http://www.goertzel.org/dynapsyc/2003/onemind.htm
Germine, M. (2004). Virtual brain states and non-locality of the ERP. Med. Hypotheses 62(4):629-34.