Do Our Observations Depend upon the Quantum State of the Universe?

TL;DR

This paper explores whether observational probabilities in quantum cosmology depend on the universe's quantum state, analyzing the conditions under which they might be independent, and discusses the plausibility of such scenarios.

Contribution

It demonstrates how probabilities can be independent of the quantum state within a framework separating state and rules, highlighting the implausibility of such conditions.

Findings

Probabilities can be independent of the quantum state under certain rules.

Inflation may influence the dependence of observations on the quantum state.

The plausibility of rules leading to state-independent probabilities is questioned.

Abstract

Generically the probabilities of observational results depend upon both the quantum state and the rules for extracting the probabilities from it. It is often argued that inflation may make our observations independent of the quantum state. In a framework in which one considers the state and the rules as logically separate, it is shown how it is possible that the probabilities are indeed independent of the state, but the rules for achieving this seem somewhat implausible.