I discuss various formulations of stochastic Einstein locality (SEL), which is a version of the idea of relativistic causality, i.e. the idea that influences propagate at most as fast as light. SEL is similar to Reichenbach's Principle of the Common Cause (PCC), and Bell's Local Causality.
My main aim is to discuss formulations of SEL for a fixed background spacetime. I previously argued that SEL is violated by the outcome dependence shown by Bell correlations, both in quantum mechanics and in quantum field theory. Here I re-assess those verdicts in the light of some recent literature which argues that outcome dependence does not violate the PCC. I argue that the verdicts about SEL still stand.
Finally, I briefly discuss how to formulate relativistic causality if there is no fixed background spacetime.
Quantized detector networks (QDN) deals with quantum information exchange between observers and their apparatus rather than with systems under observation. Partial observations in QDN involve subsets of the elementary signal detectors which constitute an apparatus. We use them to prove that QDN is consistent with Einstein locality and violations of Bell-type inequalities.
Bell gave the now standard definition of a local hidden variable theory and showed that such theories cannot reproduce the predictions of quantum mechanics without violating his ``free will'' criterion: experimenters' measurement choices can be assumed to be uncorrelated with properties of the measured system prior to measurement. An alternative is considered here: a probabilistic theory of hidden variables underlying quantum mechanics could be statistically local, in the sense that it supplies global configuration probabilities which are defined by expressions involving only local terms. This…
L. Vervoort [arxiv:1406.0901] claims to have found a model which "can violate the Bell inequality and reproduce the quantum statistics, even if it is based on local dynamics only". This claim is false. The proposed model contains global elements. The physics behind the model is local, but would not allow the explanation of violations of Bell inequalities for space-like separated events, if superluminal causal influences are forbidden. To use it for this purpose, one has to introduce a preferred frame where information can be send faster than light. As a cause of the misunderstanding we identif…
We discuss the problem of hidden variables and the motivation for introducting them in quantum mechanics. These include determinism, and the problem of meassurement and incompleteness. We first discuss Von-Neumann's imposisbility proof and then analyse it's weakness in terms of Bell's explicit hidden variable model of spin one-half particles. We next discuss Gleason's theorem and Kochen-Specker theorem and bring out the troublems with non contextual hidden variable theories. An important role is played by Einstein locality in the discussion of hidden variable theories as was first brought out …
We observe strong violation of Bell's inequality in an Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen type experiment with independent observers. Our experiment definitely implements the ideas behind the well known work by Aspect et al. We for the first time fully enforce the condition of locality, a central assumption in the derivation of Bell's theorem. The necessary space-like separation of the observations is achieved by sufficient physical distance between the measurement stations, by ultra-fast and random setting of the analyzers, and by completely independent data registration.
The 1964 theorem of John Bell shows that no model that reproduces the predictions of quantum mechanics can simultaneously satisfy the assumptions of locality and determinism. On the other hand, the assumptions of \emph{signal locality} plus \emph{predictability} are also sufficient to derive Bell inequalities. This simple theorem, previously noted but published only relatively recently by Masanes, Acin and Gisin, has fundamental implications not entirely appreciated. Firstly, nothing can be concluded about the ontological assumptions of locality or determinism independently of each other -- it…
Bell nonlocality and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) steering are every important quantum correlations of a composite quantum system. Bell nonlocality of a bipartite state is a quantum correlation demonstrated by some local quantum measurements, while EPR steering is another form of quantum correlations, observed firstly by Schrodinger in the context of famous EPR paradox. In this paper, we give some remarks on Bell nonlocality and EPR steering of bipartite states, including mathematical definitions and characterizations of these two quantum correlations, the convexity and closedness of the set …
In a previous paper [arXiv:quant-ph/9906007] Hayden and I proved, using the Heisenberg picture, that quantum physics satisfies Einstein's criterion of locality. Wallace and Timpson have argued that certain transformations of the Heisenberg- picture description of a quantum system must be regarded as leaving invariant the factual situation being described, and that taking this into account reveals that Einstein's criterion is violated after all. Here I vindicate the proof and explain some misconceptions that have led to this and other criticisms of it.
The violation of Bell inequalities by quantum physical experiments disproves all relativistic micro causal, classically real models, short Local Realistic Models (LRM). Non-locality, the infamous "spooky interaction at a distance" (A. Einstein), is already sufficiently 'unreal' to motivate modifying the "realistic" in "local realistic". This has led to many worlds and finally many minds interpretations. We introduce a simple many world model that resolves the Einstein Podolsky Rosen paradox. The model starts out as a classical LRM, thus clarifying that the many worlds concept alone does not im…
We prove that by adopting a strict interpretation of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen criterion of reality, the proofs of the known non-locality theorems fail in showing that quantum mechanics violates the principle of locality and reality.
Inspired by Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm experiments with photons, we construct an event-based simulation model in which every essential element in the ideal experiment has a counterpart. The model satisfies Einstein's criteria of local causality and does not rely on concepts of quantum and probability theory. We consider experiments in which the averages correspond to those of a singlet and product state of a system of two $S=1/2$ particles. The data is analyzed according to the experimental procedure, employing a time window to identify pairs. We study how the time window and the passage tim…
The classic paper of Clauser et al proved that Bell's Theorem experiments rule out all theories of physics which assume locality, time-forwards causality and the existence of an objective real world. The Backwards-Time Interpretation (BTI) tries to recover realism and locality by permitting backwards time causality. BTI should permit dramatic simplification of the assumptions or axioms of physics, but requires new work in fundamental mathematics, such as new tools for the "closure of turbulence," the derivation of statistics generated by ODE or PDE. Recent events like the Delayed Choice Quantu…
We perform frequency analysis of the EPR-Bell argumentation. One of the main consequences of our investigation is that the existence of probability distributions of the Kolmogorov-type which was supposed by some authors is a mathematical assumption which may not be supported by actual physical quantum processes. In fact, frequencies for hidden variables for quantum particles and measurement devices may fluctuate from run to run of an experiment. These fluctuations of frequencies for micro-parameters need not contradict to the stabilization of frequencies for physical observables. If, neverthel…
We present a numerical study of the behaviour of two magnetic dipolar atoms trapped in a harmonic potential and exhibiting the standard Einstein-de Haas effect while subject to a time dependent homogeneous magnetic field. Using a simplified description of the short range interaction and the full expression for the dipole-dipole forces we show, that under experimentally realisable conditions two dysprosium atoms may be pumped to a high ($l>20$) value of the relative orbital angular momentum.
In 1930 Einstein argued against consistency of the time-energy uncertainty relation by discussing a thought experiment involving a measurement of mass of the box which emitted a photon. Bohr seemingly triumphed over Einstein by arguing that the Einstein's own general theory of relativity saves the consistency of quantum mechanics. We revisit this thought experiment from a modern point of view at a level suitable for undergraduate readership and find that neither Einstein nor Bohr was right. Instead, this thought experiment should be thought of as an early example of a system demonstrating nonl…
We present a reformulation of Bohr's analysis of Einstein's thought experiment with the photon box, which hopefully settles some unclear issues. The box is weighed by two position measurements, the first immediately before the emission of the photon and the second after a quarter period of oscillation of the box, or alternatively after a half period. These times are precisely defined with respect to the moving clock installed in the box, but vary statistically when measured with a stationary clock outside the box, due to gravitational time dilation in accordance with Bohr's original idea. More…
Non-locality and quantum measurement are two fundamental topics in quantum theory and theirinterplay attracts intensive focus since the discovery of Bell theorem. Non-locality sharing amongmultiple observers is predicted and experimentally observed. However, only one-sided sequentialcase, i.e., one Alice and multiple Bobs is widely discussed and little is known about two-sided case.Here, we theoretically and experimentally explore the non-locality sharing in two-sided sequentialmeasurements case in which one entangled pair is distributed to multiple Alices and Bobs. Weexperimentally observed d…
In this Einstein Year of Physics it seems appropriate to look at an important aspect of Einstein's work that is often down-played: his contribution to the debate on the interpretation of quantum mechanics. Contrary to popular opinion, Bohr had no defence against Einstein's 1935 attack (the EPR paper) on the claimed completeness of orthodox quantum mechanics. I suggest that Einstein's argument, as stated most clearly in 1946, could justly be called Einstein's reality-locality-completeness theorem, since it proves that one of these three must be false. Einstein's instinct was that completeness o…
The EPR argument points to the existence of additional variables that are necessary to complete standard quantum theory. It was dismissed by Bohr because it attributes physical reality to isolated microscopic systems, independently of the macroscopic measurement apparatus. Here, we transpose the EPR argument to macroscopic systems, assuming that they are in spatially extended Fock spin states and subject to spin measurements in remote regions of space. Bohr's refutation of the EPR argument does not seem to apply in this case, since the difference of scale between the microscopic measured syste…
Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) pointed out that the quantum-mechanical description of "physical reality" implied an unphysical, instantaneous action between distant measurements. To avoid such an action at a distance, EPR concluded that Quantum Mechanics had to be incomplete. However, its extensions involving additional "hidden variables", allowing for the recovery of determinism and locality, have been disproved experimentally (Bell's theorem). Here, I present an opposite solution of the paradox based on the greater indeterminism of the modern Quantum Field Theory (QFT) description of Par…
So far no mechanism is known, which could connect the two measurements in a Bell-type experiment with a speed beyond the speed of light, commonly considered the ultimate limit of propagation of any field-like interaction. Here, we suggest such a mechanism, based on the phase of a photon field during its propagation. We show that two measurements, corresponding to two independent rotations of the fields, are connected, even if no signal passes from one point of measurement to the other. The non-local connection of a photon pair is the result of its origin at a common source, where the two field…
Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR) argued that the quantum-mechanical probabilistic description of physical reality had to be incomplete, in order to avoid an instantaneous action between distant measurements. This suggested the need for additional "hidden variables", allowing for the recovery of determinism and locality, but such a solution has been disproved experimentally. Here, I present an opposite solution, based on the greater indeterminism of the modern quantum theory of Particle Physics, predicting that the number of photons is always uncertain. No violation of locality is allowed for…
So far no mechanism is known, which could connect the two measurements in an Aspect-type experiment. Here, we suggest such a mechanism, based on the phase of a photon's field during propagation. We show that two polarization measurements are correlated, even if no signal passes from one point of measurement to the other. The non-local connection of a photon pair is the result of its origin at a common source, where the two fields acquire a well defined phase difference. Therefore, it is not actually a non-local effect in any conventional sense. We expect that the model and the detailed analysi…
This is a brief review on the theoretical interpretation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, which also contains our new insight into the problem. A particular emphasis is put on the unique role of electron orbital angular momentum, especially viewed from the novel concept of the physical component of the gauge field, which has been extensively discussed in the context of the nucleon spin decomposition problem as well as the photon angular momentum decomposition problem. Practically, we concentrate on the frequently discussed idealized setting of the Aharonov-Bohm effect, i.e. the interference phenom…
It is currently believed that the local causality of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) is destroyed by the measurement process. This belief is also based on the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox and on the so-called Bell's theorem, that are thought to prove the existence of a mysterious, instantaneous action between distant measurements. However, I have shown recently that the EPR argument is removed, in an interpretation-independent way, by taking into account the fact that the Standard Model of Particle Physics prevents the production of entangled states with a definite number of particles. Thi…
When ground-state atoms are accelerated and the field with which they interact is in its normal vacuum state, the atoms detect Unruh radiation. We show that atoms falling into a black hole emit acceleration radiation which, under appropriate initial conditions (Boulware vacuum), has an energy spectrum which looks much like Hawking radiation. This analysis also provides insight into the Einstein principle of equivalence between acceleration and gravity. The Unruh temperature can also be obtained by using the Kubo--Martin--Schwinger (KMS) periodicity of the two-point thermal correlation function…
Principle of locality means that any local change (perturbation) of the stationary state wave function field propagates with finite speed, and therefore reaches distant regions of the field with time delay. If a one-particle or multi-particle non-relativistic quantum system is initially in a stationary state, and its wave function field is locally perturbed, then perturbed and non-perturbed sub-regions appear in the region. According to Schrödinger equation, borders of the perturbed sub-region propagate with infinite speed, and the perturbation instantaneously affects all infinite region. It m…
