Gao, Shan (2025) Global Branching and Everettian Probability: A Critique of Sebens and Carroll’s Proposal. Foundations of Physics, 55 (78). ISSN 1572-9516

Text mwi-selflocating2025fop.pdf Download (233kB)

Abstract

Sebens and Carroll (2018) propose that self-locating uncertainty, constrained by their quantum-specific Epistemic Separability Principle (ESP-QM), derives Born rule probabilities in Everettian quantum mechanics through a global branching model. This paper argues that their approach fails due to the loss of local amplitude information in global branching, particularly evident in an EPR-Bohm setup, where distant observers like Bob are assigned pure local states lacking the amplitude coefficients essential for Born rule probabilities. This flaw undermines the quantitative link to the Born rule, rendering their derivation empirically inadequate. Additional inconsistencies of global branching, including conflicts with decoherence dynamics, relativistic constraints, and limitations on superposition measurements, further weaken the model. Defenses invoking global amplitudes or benign non-locality fail to resolve these issues. This analysis underscores the need to reconsider branching mechanisms to secure a robust foundation for Everettian probabilities.

---

Export/Citation:

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

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Gao, Shan sgao7319@uni.sydney.edu.au
Keywords:	Many-Worlds Interpretation; Global Branching; Everettian Probability; Self-Locating Uncertainty; Born Rule; Special Relativity
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Depositing User:	Prof. Shan Gao
Date Deposited:	24 Oct 2025 15:12
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2025 15:12
Item ID:	27013
Journal or Publication Title:	Foundations of Physics
Publisher:	Springer
Official URL:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10701-0...
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1007/s10701-025-00895-6
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
Date:	24 October 2025
Volume:	55
Number:	78
ISSN:	1572-9516
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27013

Available Versions of this Item

• Global Branching and Everettian Probability: A Critique of Sebens and Carroll’s Proposal. (deposited 25 Jun 2025 14:14)
  • Global Branching and Everettian Probability: A Critique of Sebens and Carroll’s Proposal. (deposited 24 Oct 2025 15:12) [Currently Displayed]

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Altmetric.com

Actions (login required)

View Item