The Constructor Theory of Information provides a framework for determining the minimum requirements for a physical system to store and process information, enabling classical and quantum computation.
The principles of interoperability and consistency of measurement are key principles in the Constructor Theory of Information, allowing for the faithful copying and communication of information across different mediums and ensuring consistent results in measurements of the same physical property conducted through different processes or devices.
Deep dives
The need for a Constructive Theory of Information
The Constructive Theory of Information was developed to provide a rigorous framework for concepts like measurement and possibility that are not dependent on specific physical theories like quantum theory. It aims to establish the criteria for a theory of physics to support information, regardless of the specific laws of physics. By using Constructive Theory, researchers can determine the minimum requirements for a physical system to store and process information, enabling classical and quantum computation. It also serves as a criterion for determining the reasonableness of proposed theories, helping to identify whether a theory supports science and the growth of knowledge.
Defining classical and quantum information
In Constructive Theory of Information, classical information is defined as a system that can occupy distinct states that can be permuted by possible operations. The principle of interoperability ensures that information in one physical medium can be faithfully copied into another medium without loss of information. Quantum information, on the other hand, is defined as a system that has two sets of states capable of holding information, with the union of these sets unable to hold information. Constructive Theory highlights that quantum information and its important properties stem from the different way information manifests in quantum theory compared to classical physics, where classical information mediums can only accommodate one set of states capable of holding information.
Principles of Constructive Theory and their implications
Constructive Theory establishes principles that capture the regularities of information. The principle of interoperability asserts that information transcends the physical substrate in which it is instantiated, allowing information to be faithfully copied and communicated across different mediums. The principle of consistency of measurement states that measurements of the same physical property, conducted through different processes or physical devices, will yield consistent results. Constructive Theory provides a framework to understand information and measurement, guiding the formulation of new theories and ensuring compatibility with existing physical principles. It offers a powerful tool for developing theories that may challenge conventional intuitions and pave the way for further advancements in physics.
This is my interview with David Deutsch, Visiting Professor of physics at the Centre for Quantum Computation, the Clarendon Laboratory, Oxford University and an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. We discuss the constructor theory of information, some of its conjectured principles, the unification of classical and quantum information, and more.
Constructor Theory of Information paper - https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1405/1405.5563.pdf