The Observer vs. Measurement debate finally solved thanks to Wigner

....CONT"D from previous post

Direct counterfactual communication via quantum Zeno effect

Significance Recent theoretical studies have shown that quantum mechanics allows counterfactual communication, even without actual transmission of physical particles, which raised a heated debate on its interpretation. Although several papers have been published on the theoretical aspects of the subject, a faithful experimental demonstration is missing. Here, by using the quantum Zeno effect and a single-photon source, direct communication without carrier particle transmission is implemented successfully. We experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of direct counterfactual communication with the current technique. The results of our work can help deepen the understanding of quantum mechanics. Furthermore, our experimental scheme is applicable to other quantum technologies, such as imaging and state preparation.

Abstract

Intuition from our everyday lives gives rise to the belief that information exchanged between remote parties is carried by physical particles. Surprisingly, in a recent theoretical study [Salih H, Li ZH, Al-Amri M, Zubairy MS (2013) Phys Rev Lett 110:170502], quantum mechanics was found to allow for communication, even without the actual transmission of physical particles. From the viewpoint of communication, this mystery stems from a (nonintuitive) fundamental concept in quantum mechanics—wave-particle duality. All particles can be described fully by wave functions. To determine whether light appears in a channel, one refers to the amplitude of its wave function. However, in counterfactual communication, information is carried by the phase part of the wave function. Using a single-photon source, we experimentally demonstrate the counterfactual communication and successfully transfer a monochrome bitmap from one location to another by using a nested version of the quantum Zeno effect.

www.pnas.org...

So, in the case of Wigner's Friend, in the lab, he can collapse his wave function so to speak when he carries out a measurement. Wigner outside of the lab can look at the same particle and get an interference pattern and come to the conclusion that his friend hasn't carried out a measurement.

If the wave function is just a mathematical tool, why doesn't Wigner and his friend get the same outcome?

Also, Wigner can get an interference pattern unless his friend calls him from the lab and tells him that he carried out a measurement and tells Wigner the result of the measurement. Then Wigner no longer gets an interference pattern. It's like there's Bayesian updating of Wigner's wave function. Before this updating, Wigner can get alternative facts so to speak.

Why does the wave function care about whether conscious Observers know the results of a measurement or not?

If a non conscious observer causes a measurement to occur, the conscious observer can still choose which way he wants to carry out a measurement event after a measurement occurred by a non conscious observer. Here's Wheeler talking about this.



But we have learned in the Wigner's Friend experiments, when Wigner is told that his friend carried out a measurement, Wigner can still get interference in the h and v basis until his friend tells him the result. Then Wigner's wave function is updated to match his friend's and he can no longer get an interference pattern.

How can this occur without consciousness? Why does the wave function care if a conscious Observer knows the outcome of an experiment or not?

The non physical yet real wave function is connected to consciousness of a human observer!

Lastly, I suggest you take the time and read these things before posting a knee jerk reaction. This way we don't have to rehash certain points.

a reply to: neoholographic

According to Wiki, the Quantum Zeno effect was also blamed for the nuclear yield error in the Castle(like chess) Bravo test.

It was assumed that the lithium-7 would absorb one neutron, producing lithium-8, which decays (through beryllium-8) to a pair of alpha particles on a timescale of seconds, vastly longer than the timescale of nuclear detonation.

"The yield of 15 megatons was 3 times that of the 5 Mt predicted by its designers.[3][24]:541 The cause of the higher yield was an error made by designers of the device at Los Alamos National Laboratory."

en.wikipedia.org...

That sunny dome! those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Bewar e! Bewar e! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice,

a reply to: Phantom423
a reply to: SRPrime
a reply to: ChaoticOrder


The empirical data shows that the variable that determines whether or not the photon behaves like a particle or wave is the experimenter's will to measure it. This is a key fundamental aspect of quantum physics. Wheeler's delayed choice experiment proved it beyond reasonable doubt... You either believe a photon wave can travel back in time and become a particle, or admit that the act of measurement by a conscious faculty is the determining factor of wave-function collapse

a reply to: cooperton

An orangutan observing Castle Bravo might exhibit conditioned salivation in anticipation of an orange snack.
The Polish cryptographers that designed and sold the Enigma rotor machine devices claimed a 3 rotor machine with each rotor offering 26 positions had 17576 possible combinations. In practice the enigma was broken using wave superposition that reduced the number of settings from 26^3 to 26*3 or just 78. This fact didn't enter into the consciousness of many of the German political leaders during the 1930's and 1940's.
So there are practical applications for obfuscation and lies.