What is the connection between quantum relationality and symmetry-based relationality?

Emily Adlam

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arXiv · 2611.02219

What is the connection between quantum relationality and symmetry-based relationality?

Emily Adlam

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Abstract

Although it has often been noted that both quantum mechanics and relativistic physics involve significant forms of relationality, the nature of the connection remains unclear. In addressing such a question it makes sense to start from the simplest possibility, so in this article I set out to consider the viability of the hypothesis that the two types of relationality are ultimately the same: that is, quantum states always characterize degrees of freedom which can be changed by a symmetry transformation, so they are relativized for exactly the same reason as partial observables in general relativity. I use the idea that we only measure partial observables to argue that this suggestion is compatible with all existing empirical evidence for quantum mechanics, and then I consider the consequences for ongoing debates about the nature of measurement in quantum mechanics.

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Emily Adlam. 2026-11-01. What is the connection between quantum relationality and symmetry-based relationality?. https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.02219

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