Quantum States as Objective Informational Bridges

TL;DR

This paper proposes that quantum states serve as objective informational bridges linking physical conditions, emphasizing their role in forming reliable expectations and probabilistic relations rather than representing physical properties.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of quantum states as objective informational links, clarifying their function in quantum processes like teleportation.

Findings

Quantum states are objective probabilistic relations.

Quantum states function as informational bridges.

The interpretation applies to quantum teleportation and other scenarios.

Abstract

A quantum state represents neither properties of a physical system nor anyone's knowledge of its properties. The important question is not what quantum states represent but how they are used---as informational bridges. Knowing about some physical situations (its backing conditions), an agent may assign a quantum state to form expectations about other possible physical situations (its advice conditions). Quantum states are objective: only expectations based on correct state assignments are generally reliable. If a quantum state represents anything, it is the objective probabilistic relations between its backing conditions and its advice conditions. This paper offers an account of quantum states and their function as informational bridges, in quantum teleportation and elsewhere.