Thought experiments in a quantum computer

TL;DR

This paper presents an open-source software tool for simulating complex quantum thought experiments involving multiple reasoning agents, enabling detailed exploration of quantum interpretations and agent interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a customizable software package that models quantum reasoning agents and their interactions, including complex thought experiments like Wigner's friend.

Findings

Successfully modeled the Frauchiger-Renner thought experiment

Allows customization of agents' reasoning processes and interpretations

Runs on classical and quantum hardware

Abstract

We introduce a software package that allows users to design and run simulations of thought experiments in quantum theory. In particular, it covers cases where several reasoning agents are modelled as quantum systems, such as Wigner's friend experiment. Users can customize the protocol of the experiment, the inner workings of agents (including a quantum circuit that models their reasoning process), the abstract logical system used (which may or not allow agents to combine premises and make inferences about each other's reasoning), and the interpretation of quantum theory used by different agents. Our open-source software is written in a quantum programming language, ProjectQ, and runs on classical or quantum hardware. As an example, we model the Frauchiger-Renner extended Wigner's friend thought experiment, where agents are allowed to measure each other's physical memories, and make inferences about each other's reasoning.