McKenzie, Alan (2016) Some remarks on the mathematical structure of the multiverse. [Preprint]

PDF arxiv_paper.pdf - Submitted Version Download (363kB)

Abstract

The Copenhagen interpretation of quantum entanglement experiments is at best incomplete, since the intermediate state induced by collapse of the wave function apparently depends upon the inertial rest frame in which the experiment is observed. While Everett’s Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI) avoids the issue of wave function collapse, it, too, is a casualty of the special theory of relativity. This requires all events in the universe, past, present and future, to be unique, as in the block-universe picture, which rules out Everett-style branching. The benefits of MWI may be retained, however, by postulating a multiverse of discrete, parallel, block universes which are identical to each other up to certain points in the MWI “trunk” before they diverge according to the MWI branching. The quantum probability of an event then emerges from the number of parallel universes in which the event happens divided by the total number of universes. This means that the total number of such universes is finite. Such a picture is more easily envisaged by thinking of it as a purely mathematical structure, as in Tegmark’s Mathematical Universe Hypothesis. However, while Tegmark wished to avoid contamination from Gödelian self-referential knots, not only does such contamination appear to be inevitable, it brings an unexpected benefit. The mathematical hierarchy required by Gödel’s enigmatic footnote 48a leads to an explanation for a unitary evolution of deterministic quantum rules across the multiverse while accounting for quantum uncertainty within an individual universe. Other aspects of this structure, called here the Plexus, are discussed, including awareness of existence and other questions raised by the hypothesis.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID McKenzie, Alan alanphysics@hotmail.com
Keywords:	Mathematical Universe Hypothesis; multiverse; Gödel; Many Worlds Interpretation; Plexus
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User:	Dr Alan McKenzie
Date Deposited:	26 Feb 2016 14:51
Last Modified:	26 Feb 2016 14:51
Item ID:	11921
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date:	22 February 2016
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11921

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item