On testing the simulation theory
Abstract
Can the theory that reality is a simulation be tested? We investigate this question based on the assumption that if the system performing the simulation is finite (i.e. has limited resources), then to achieve low computational complexity, such a system would, as in a video game, render content (reality) only at the moment that information becomes available for observation by a player and not at the moment of detection by a machine (that would be part of the simulation and whose detection would also be part of the internal computation performed by the Virtual Reality server before rendering content to the player). Guided by this principle we describe conceptual wave/particle duality experiments aimed at testing the simulation theory.
Additional Information
We thank Lorena Buitrago for her help with Figure 4. We also thank an anonymous referee whose detailed comments and suggestions have lead to significant improvements.Attached Files
Submitted - 1703.00058.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 92171
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20190109-112815344
- Created
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2019-01-09Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2023-06-02Created from EPrint's last_modified field