mwengler comments on How Many Worlds? - Less Wrong

2 Post author: smk 14 December 2011 02:51PM

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Comment author: mwengler 15 December 2011 10:08:52PM 1 point [-]

The wikipedia article states

However, in 1985 David Deutsch published three related thought experiments which could test the theory vs the Copenhagen interpretation.[69] The experiments require macroscopic quantum state preparation and quantum erasure by a hypothetical quantum computer which is currently outside experimental possibility.

If a quantum computer could correctly be characterized as a computer which utilized the transistors in other branches of the multiverse to speed up calculations in this one, then it would merely require the operation of any quantum computer at all to provide strong evidence for the multiverse. However, the article states that a test for MWI requires a particular special operation of a particular special quantum computer, that the multiverse is not a conclusion we reach merely by seeing a quantum computer work.

Sorry I didn't make that connection clearer before.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 08 April 2012 07:52:45PM 0 points [-]

I'm pretty confident that that paper is in error. Or rather, it assumes that the Copenhagen Interpretation is implemented so that it deviates from pure Quantum Mechanics in a particular, testable, way (or category of ways) - and that renders his version of CI distinguishable from MWI, and less useful for quantum computing. When I get academic library access again, I'll take a closer look at it.