From Unitarity to Irreversibility: The Role of Infinite Tensor Products and Nested Wigner’s Friends
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The transition from unitary, reversible von Neumann-Everett quantum processes to non-unitary, irreversible processes and measurements is explored through infinite tensor products interpreted as nested, chained, or iterated Wigner’s friend scenarios. Infinite tensor products can disrupt unitary equivalence through sectorization and factorization, drawing parallels to concepts from real analysis, recursive mathematics, and statistical physics.
Source: Foundations of Physics
Author: Karl Svozil
Institution: TU Wien
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,390
OpenAlex ID: W4416897178