文档介绍：arXiv:gr-qc/0408037 v1 12 Aug 2004
hsssbitdt h nvriyo Nottingham of University the to submitted Thesis
o h ereo otro hlspy pi 2004 April Philosophy, of Doctor of degree the for
lsia n unu Causality Quantum and Classical
nQatmFedTheory Field Quantum in
yJnta io ais . Eakins, Simon Jonathan by
h unu Universe Quantum The
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Abstract
Based on a number of experimentally verified physical observations, it is argued that the
standard principles of quantum mechanics should be applied to the Universe as a whole.
Thus, a paradigm is proposed in which the entire Universe is represented by a pure state
wavefunction contained in a factorisable Hilbert space of enormous dimension, and where
this statevector is developed by essive applications of operators that correspond to uni-
tary rotations and Hermitian tests. Moreover, because by definition the Universe contains
everything, it is argued that these operators must be chosen self-referentially; the overall
dynamics of the system is envisaged to be analogous to a gigantic, self-governing, quantum
computation. The issue of how the Universe could choose these operators without requiring
or referring to a fictitious external observer is addressed, and this in turn rephrases and
removes the traditional Measurement Problem inherent in the Copenhagen interpretation
of quantum mechanics.
The processes by which conventional physics might be recovered from this fundamental,
mathematical and global description of reality are particularly investigated. Specifically,
it is demonstrated that by considering the changing properties, separabilities and factori-
sations of both the state and the operators as the Universe proceeds though a sequence of
putations, familiar notions such as classical distinguishability, particle physics,
space, time, special relativity and endo-physical experiments can all begin to emerge from
the proposed picture. A pregeometric vision of cosmology is therefore discussed, with al