Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The Wigner's friend paradox, like the Schrödinger's cat paradox, challenges our understanding of the foundations of quantum theory. The paradox is best illustrated by a brief scenario featuring two observers who draw different conclusions. We describe the Wigner's friend scenario as told by E. P. Wigner, and then an earlier version as told by Hugh Everett. Wigner and Everett offer different resolutions of essentially the same paradox. Decoherence theory provides a third resolution. Despite different interpretations (or their absence), these three stories fit together to form a consistent picture without a paradox.
Source: American Journal of Physics
DOI: 10.1119/5.0303052
Author: Jay Lawrence
Institution: Dartmouth College
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7140092129