Quantum mechanics has long ceased to be just a theory of the microscopic world: entanglement and information have become working tools in quantum computing and communication. Around these concepts, entire fields have grown, including interpretations of quantum mechanics and post-quantum theories, but the physical essence of entanglement remains a subject of debate. This work stands among studies seeking new foundations for quantum theory, from decoherence analysis to the holographic entropy principle. Unlike neighboring approaches that focus on mathematical structures or probabilistic generalizations, here the emphasis is on openness as an intrinsic property of quantum description.
The author begins by analyzing the concept of openness, known from the theory of open quantum systems: any system interacts with its environment, and its state is described not by a wave function but by a density matrix. It is shown that two common views of a mixed state, as part of a global pure state (the partial trace view) and as a mixture of pure states (the summing view), are physically nonequivalent, and the second is incorrect. Next, the model "universe = system + environment" and its generalizations are introduced: multiple environments and multiple worlds. For these models, mutual information is computed, and on its basis the tangnet space is constructed, a topological two-dimensional complex lattice whose nodes correspond to states and whose links correspond to entanglement. In this space, the inside-outside symmetry is formulated: local unitary transformations and permutations of subsystems leave the quantum structure unchanged.
The main result is the claim that quantum mechanics describes correlations and information in the new space called the tangnet, rather than in the Hilbert space of state vectors. In the tangnet, the elementary structure is the qubit: two subsystems linked by entanglement form a single object with no internal or external boundaries. The author formulates a theorem on the existence of a universal inside-outside symmetry, under which the entangled structure is invariant under local transformations and permutations. A general expression for the mutual information between two systems, taking into account their environments, is also derived, which reduces to known entanglement measures in special cases. There are no numerical estimates in the work: it is a conceptual study outlining a program for further mathematical analysis.
The work contributes to the debate on the foundations of quantum mechanics by proposing to view openness and entanglement as primary concepts, not as consequences of interactions between isolated systems. Compared to neighboring approaches, such as decoherence theory or studies of quantum structure, here a new space is introduced where information is shared rather than stored locally. This could change the view of quantum entanglement: from a resource to be protected from the environment, it becomes a basic element of the description of reality. No practical applications are proposed in the article, but the conceptual shift could influence interpretations of quantum theory and the search for new symmetries.
The topic could develop in several directions. First, a rigorous mathematical formalization of the tangnet is needed: defining the topology, entanglement measures, and dynamics on this lattice. Second, it would be interesting to explore the connection between the inside-outside symmetry and known symmetries in quantum field theory and statistical physics. Third, the question remains open as to how the tangnet relates to spacetime and whether it could serve as a bridge to quantum gravity. Finally, the proposed picture could stimulate the search for macroscopic quantum effects, such as spin at large scales, which goes beyond standard notions.
The ideas of this work could influence interpretations of quantum mechanics, quantum information theory, and the philosophy of physics, offering a new language for describing entanglement and openness.
Immediate next steps are to mathematically prove the theorem on the inside-outside symmetry, give a rigorous definition of the tangnet, and compare the proposed mutual information measure with existing entanglement measures.
The work is directly related to the unresolved problem of the physical meaning of entanglement: despite many measures and operational definitions, there is no unified understanding of what a quantum correlation is. It also touches on the problem of the quantum-to-classical transition: if openness is primary, then classicality could emerge as a limiting case of the tangnet structure, rather than through decoherence. Finally, the question of the connection between quantum mechanics and spacetime remains open, and the tangnet offers an alternative arena for describing reality.
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What the work does
The paper proposes viewing quantum mechanics as a description of openness: it introduces a space called tangnet, where the elementary structure is a qubit and the fundamental symmetry is the inside-outside symmetry. The author analyzes 'system + environment' models and computes mutual information, showing that the quantum structure is invariant under local transformations and permutations.
Where its strength is
The strong point is the introduction of the tangnet space, where information is shared rather than stored locally, which allows rethinking entanglement as a primary structure without classical analogies.
Where it could go next
Worth trying
Why this may matter
If tangnet proves useful for describing complex quantum networks, it could provide a new language for quantum computing and communication, where entanglement is viewed as a resource rather than a property of individual systems.
Nearby works in our archive
The archive is sparse around this work: the closest review is only 0.60, against a usual 0.64. It looks like few have drilled nearby.
The author calls the new space "tangnet" (from the English word tangle), emphasizing that the links between lattice nodes reflect entanglement, not geometric distance.