On Penrose's theory of objective gravitationally induced wave function reduction

TL;DR

This paper analyzes Penrose's theory of gravity-induced wave function collapse, highlighting its implications for quantum coherence and general covariance, and explores possible ways to avoid these issues.

Contribution

It provides a formal analysis of Penrose's reduction mechanism and discusses potential resolutions like emergent quantum mechanics and super-determinism.

Findings

Quantum coherence as a signature of covariance violation

Penrose's argument leads to interpretational challenges

Potential avenues to reconcile the theory with covariance

Abstract

The formal structure of Penrose's gravitationally induced reduction of the wave function mechanism is analyzed. It is shown that pushing Penrose's argument forward leads to the interpretation of quantum coherence in microscopic systems as an observable signature violation of general covariance. We discuss potential avenues to avoid this conclusion, among them emergent quantum mechanics and super-determinism.