Adlam, Emily (2026) Why does the wavefunction 'collapse' in relational approaches to quantum mechanics? [Preprint]

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Abstract

I argue that there is a straightforward way to understand the occurrence of wavefunction collapses or `quantum events' in relational approaches to quantum mechanics: we necessarily encounter a discontinuity in our description when a system interacts with the reference relative to which we are describing it, since the reference system cannot be described relative to itself. This makes it clear how recent concerns around quantum events in relational quantum mechanics should be resolved. However, the solution requires accepting that quantum mechanics is not a complete description of all physical facts, and moreover I argue that this is most likely inevitable if we want to be able to give a precise description of quantum events.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Adlam, Emily eadlam90@gmail.com
Keywords:	Relational quantum mechanics; self-reference; quantum events
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Dr Emily Adlam
Date Deposited:	20 Apr 2026 12:54
Last Modified:	20 Apr 2026 12:54
Item ID:	29262
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	19 April 2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/29262

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