Relational Theories
- Noah Heywood
- Feb 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 26
For Carlo Rovelli, quantum mechanical measurements are highly problematic - perhaps explaining his own ideas to the ping pong club might help...
Join Carlo Rovelli's ping pong club in this home-video reimagining of the debate around relational quantum mechanics...
Arguably, the most significant evolution in physics in the past 150 years was the move away from Galilean ideas of mechanics (which the movement of things in space and time) and towards Einstein's special theory of relativity. Key to this is the idea of relative velocity - Einstein concludes that a universal ticking clock for the universe does not exist, which allows for objects moving at higher speeds to experience the tick of time more slowly compared to all objects moving at any lower speed.
How does this relate to quantum mechanics?
Rovelli says that just as no universal ticking clock exists for the universe, there must be no state of a quantum particle that is the same for all observers, as all observers form a state of existence relative to the system being observed. Quantum mechanics is complete, and every object has a specific, defined relation with another.
How does this work with quantum mechanics then?
Well, as an extension to Louis De Broglie's idea that all objects have a wavelength, Carlo Rovelli says every interaction between every object follows quantum mechanics - if every interaction is defined in the same way, there is nothing special about the act of measuring - the wave function does not collapse. So we don't get the same 'spooky action at a distance' that we tried to get around in hidden variable theory.
Philosophically, relational quantum mechanics has its detractors: by extending the idea of relativism to the measurement problem, Carlo Rovelli says there is no objective reality; this poses all sorts of issues in a branch of philosophy known as metaphysics.
Additionally, relational quantum mechanics requires us to investigate the nature of perception - do the same issues that impact two people seeing the same thing and defining it as a different colour extend to the entire relationship between all elements of reality?
Is Relational Quantum mechanics useful?
Yes - it is a complete theory that works with current ideas
Yes - defining no objective reality fits with relativity
No - the idea is too abstract and hard to apply formally
Our recommendations in the the new relational paradigm:
Carlo Rovelli describes the intellectual origins and philosophical concepts that inspire the relational theory of quantum mechanics in his bestselling book "Helgoland"
Rovelli describes the more abstract and existential context of his theory in this discussion with Brian Greene at the World Science Festival
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