If physics is an information science, what is an observer?

TL;DR

This paper explores how replacing the traditional quantum observer with a classical automaton-based observer can still produce quantum-like observations, suggesting a new perspective on the role of observers in quantum theory.

Contribution

It demonstrates that classical automaton-like observers can generate quantum-like measurement outcomes under reasonable physical assumptions.

Findings

Observers with classical automaton properties produce quantum-like observations

Quantum characteristics emerge without specific physical assumptions about the observer

Challenges traditional views of the observer's role in quantum mechanics

Abstract

Interpretations of quantum theory have traditionally assumed a "Galilean" observer, a bare "point of view" implemented physically by a quantum system. This paper investigates the consequences of replacing such an informationally-impoverished observer with an observer that satisfies the requirements of classical automata theory, i.e. an observer that encodes sufficient prior information to identify the system being observed and recognize its acceptable states. It shows that with reasonable assumptions about the physical dynamics of information channels, the observations recorded by such an observer will display the typical characteristics predicted by quantum theory, without requiring any specific assumptions about the observer's physical implementation.