PIRSA:18070052

Quantum reference systems: Where foundations meets gravity

Hoehn, P. (2018). Quantum reference systems: Where foundations meets gravity. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/18070052

Hoehn, Philipp. Quantum reference systems: Where foundations meets gravity. Perimeter Institute, Aug. 01, 2018, https://pirsa.org/18070052 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:18070052,
            doi = {10.48660/18070052},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/18070052},
            author = {Hoehn, Philipp},
            keywords = {Quantum Foundations},
            language = {en},
            title = {Quantum reference systems: Where foundations meets gravity},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2018},
            month = {aug},
            note = {PIRSA:18070052 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Philipp Hoehn

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University

Talk number
PIRSA:18070052
Collection
Talk Type
Subject
Abstract
Quantum foundations and (quantum) gravity are usually considered independently. However, I will demonstrate by means of quantum reference systems how tools and perspectives from quantum gravity can help to solve problems in quantum foundations and, conversely, how quantum foundation perspectives can be useful to constrain spacetime structures. First, I will show how one can derive transformations between quantum reference frames from a gravity inspired symmetry (essentially Mach’s) principle. This principle enforces a perspective neutral theory in which choosing the perspective of a specific frame becomes a choice of gauge and all physical information is relational. This setting enables one to derive and generalize, from first principles, frame transformations that have been proposed earlier in the foundations literature. Moreover, the framework extends to the relational paradigm of dynamics, familiar from quantum gravity, and thereby provides a unifying method for changes of perspective in the quantum theory, incl. changes of both spatial and temporal quantum reference systems. Subsequently, I will take a quantum information inspired perspective on frame synchronization and transformations. Without presupposing specific spacetime structure, I will exhibit how the Lorentz group follows from operational conditions on quantum communication, exemplifying how quantum information protocols can constrain the spacetime structures in which they are feasible.