I argue that conventional estimates of the criterion for classical behavior of a macroscopic body are incorrect, because they do not take into account the locality of interactions, which characterizes the behavior of all systems described approximately by local quantum field theory. Black holes are the only localized objects which do not have such a description. The deviations from classical behavior of a macroscopic body, except for those which can be described as classical uncertainties in the initial values of macroscopic variables,are {\it exponentially} small as a function of the volume of the macro-system in microscopic units.
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.
A critique to the article by C.A. Fuchs, N.D. Mermin, and R.Schack, "An introduction to QBism with and application to the locality of quantum mechanics" that appeared in Am. J. Phys. 82 (8), 749-754 (2014)
The conflict between the locality of general relativity, reflected in its space-time description, and the non-locality of quantum mechanics, contained in its Hilbert space description, is discussed. Gauge covariant non-local observables that depend on gauge fields and gravity as well as the wave function are used in order to try to understand and minimize this conflict within the frame-work of these two theories. Applications are made to the Aharonov-Bohm effect and its generalizations to non Abelian gauge fields and gravity.
A view of emission and absorption of photons by atoms, which was proposed by Max Planck, is recalled. A direct experiment that could corroborate or refute that view is defined.
A correlation measure relating to measured and unmeasured local quantities in quantum mechanics is introduced, and is then applied to assess the locality implications for Bell/CHSH and similar set-ups. This leads to some interesting results, and the scheme is extended to the generalized no-signalling boxes framework. Some questions are raised about the use of counterfactual reasoning in quantum mechanics.
While quantum mechanics allows spooky action at a distance at the level of the wave-function, it also respects locality since there is no instantaneous propagation of real physical effects. We show that this feature can be proved in the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics by a simple general result involving commuting Hermitian operators corresponding to distant (causally disconnected) observables. This is reminiscent of satisfying the locality condition in relativistic quantum field theories.
Nonlinear modifications of quantum mechanics generically lead to nonlocal effects which violate relativistic causality. We study these effects using the functional Schrodinger equation for quantum fields and identify a type of nonlocality which causes nearly instantaneous entanglement of spacelike separated systems. We describe a simple example involving widely separated wave-packet (coherent) states, showing that nonlinearity in the Schrodinger evolution causes spacelike entanglement, even in free field theory.
It is shown that, in order to avoid unacceptable nonlocal effects, the free parameters of the general Doebner-Goldin equation have to be chosen such that this nonlinear Schrödinger equation becomes Galilean covariant.
The term 'locality' is used in different contexts with different meanings. There have been claims that relational quantum mechanics is local, but it is not clear then how it accounts for the effects that go under the usual name of quantum non-locality. The present article shows that the failure of 'locality' in the sense of Bell, once interpreted in the relational framework, reduces to the existence of a common cause in an indeterministic context. In particular, there is no need to appeal to a mysterious space-like influence to understand it.
Two central concepts of quantum mechanics are Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, and a subtle form of non-locality that Einstein famously called ``spooky action at a distance''. These two fundamental features have thus far been distinct concepts. Here we show that they are inextricably and quantitatively linked. Quantum mechanics cannot be more non-local with measurements that respect the uncertainty principle. In fact, the link between uncertainty and non-locality holds for all physical theories.More specifically, the degree of non-locality of any theory is determined by two factors -- the s…
A qualitative but formalized representation of microstates is first established quite independently of the quantum mechanical mathematical formalism, exclusively under epistemological-operational-methodological constraints. Then, using this representation as a reference-and-imbedding-structure, the foundations of an intelligible reconstruction of the Hilbert-Dirac formulation of Quantum Mechanics is developed. Inside this reconstruction the measurement problem as well as the other major problems raised by the quantum mechanical formalism, dissolve.
Deutsch and Hayden have proposed an alternative formulation of quantum mechanics which is completely local. We argue that their proposal must be understood as having a form of `gauge freedom' according to which mathematically distinct states are physically equivalent. Once this gauge freedom is taken into account, their formulation is no longer local.
A local description of quantum subsystems can be used to construct ontologies of the full quantum predictions. This paper communicates one possible way to do so. A retrocausal interpretation of quantum mechanics where the de Broglie-Bohm particles are the retrocausal agents is developed. This interpretation is constrained to be compatible with the existence of a local realist description of quantum subsystems.
Quantum theory violates Bell's inequality, but not to the maximum extent that is logically possible. We derive inequalities (generalizations of Cirel'son's inequality) that quantify the upper bound of the violation, both for the standard formalism and the formalism of generalized observables (POVMs). These inequalities are quantum analogues of Bell inequalities, and they can be used to test the quantum version of locality. We discuss the nature of this kind of locality. We also go into the relation of our results to an argument by Popescu and Rohrlich (Found. Phys. 24, 379 (1994)) that there i…
We give an introduction to the QBist interpretation of quantum mechanics. We note that it removes the paradoxes, conundra, and pseudo-problems that have plagued quantum foundations for the past nine decades. As an example, we show in detail how it eliminates quantum "nonlocality".
The nonrelativistic limit of nonlocal modifications to the Klein Gordon operator is studied, and the experimental possibilities of casting stringent constraints on the nonlocality scale via planned and/or current optomechanical experiments are discussed. Details of the perturbative analysis and semianalitical simulations leading to the dynamical evolution of a quantum harmonic oscillator in the presence of non locality reported in [1], together with a comprehensive account of the experimental methodology with particular regard to sensitivity limitations related to thermal decoherence time and …
The status of locality in quantum mechanics is analyzed from a nonstandard point of view. It is assumed that quantum states are relative, they depend on and are defined with respect to some bigger physical system which contains the former system as a subsystem. Hence, the bigger system acts as a reference system. It is shown that quantum mechanics can be reformulated in accordance with this new physical assumption. There is an important consequence of this dependence: states may not be comparable, i.e., they cannot be checked by suitable measurements simultaneously. This special circumstance i…
Avoiding the use of mathematical formalism, this essay exposes the quantum mechanics the phenomenon of non-locality in terms of a metaphor involving human twins focused on their hands' dexterity attribute.
Bohmian mechanics reproduces all statistical predictions of quantum mechanics, which ensures that entanglement cannot be used for superluminal signaling. However, individual Bohmian particles can experience superluminal influences. We propose to illustrate this point using a double double-slit setup with path-entangled photons. The Bohmian velocity field for one of the photons can be measured using a recently demonstrated weak-measurement technique. The found velocities strongly depend on the value of a phase shift that is applied to the other photon, potentially at spacelike separation.
Bell's theorem is a statement by which averages obtained from specific types of statistical distributions must conform to a family of inequalities. These models, in accordance with the EPR argument, provide for the simultaneous existence of quantum mechanically incompatible quantities. We first recall several contradictions arising between the assumption of a joint distribution for incompatible observables and the probability structure of quantum-mechanics, and conclude that Bell's theorem is not expected to be relevant to quantum phenomena described by non-commuting observables, irrespective …
In this paper, we extend our previous discussion on ontological determinism, non-locality and quantum mechanics to that of the Sarfatti post-quantum mechanics perspective. We examine the nature of quantum equilibrium and non-equilibrium and uncertainty following the Sarfatti description of this theoretical development, which serves to extend the statistical linear unitary quantum mechanics for closed systems to a locally-retrocausal, non-statistical, non-linear, non-unitary theory for open systems. We discuss how the Bohmian quantum potential has a dependence upon the position of its Bell beab…
In all local realistic theories worked out till now, locality is considered as a basic assumption. Most people in the field consider the inconsistency between local realistic theories and quantum mechanics to be a result of non-local nature of quantum mechanics. In this Paper, we derive the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger type theorem for particles with instantaneous (non-local) interactions at the hidden-variable level. Then, we show that the previous contradiction still exists between quantum mechanics and non-local hidden variable models.
In all local realistic theories worked out till now, locality is considered as a basic assumption. Most people in the field consider the inconsistency between local realistic theories and quantum mechanics to be a result of non-local nature of quantum mechanics. In this paper, we derive Bell's inequality for particles with instantaneous interactions, and show that the aforementioned contradiction still exists between quantum mechanics and non-local hidden variable models. Then, we use this non-locality to obtain the GHZ theorem. In what follows, we show that Bacon and Toner's protocol, for the…
Several quantum gravity scenarios lead to physics below the Planck scale characterised by nonlocal, Lorentz invariant equations of motion. We show that such non-local effective field theories lead to a modified Schrödinger evolution in the nonrelativistic limit. In particular, the nonlocal evolution of opto-mechanical quantum oscillators is characterised by a spontaneous periodic squeezing that cannot be generated by environmental effects. We discuss constraints on the nonlocality obtained by past experiments, and show how future experiments (already under construction) will either see such ef…
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 …
The quantized canonical space-time coordinates of a relativistic point particle are expressed in terms of the elements of a complex Clifford algebra which combines the complex properties of SL(2.C) and quantum mechanics. When the quantum measurement principle is adapted to the generating space of the Clifford algebra we find that the transition probabilities for twofold degenerate paths in space-time equals the transition amplitudes for the underlying paths in Clifford space. This property is used to show that the apparent non-locality of quantum mechanics in a double slit experiment and in an…
A recent paper [P. Martin-Dussaud, C. Rovelli, F. Zalamea, arXiv:1806.08150] has given a lucid treatment of Bell's notion of local causality within the framework of the relational interpretation of quantum mechanics. However, the authors went on to conclude that the quantum violation of Bell's notion of local causality is no more surprising than a common cause. Here, I argue that this conclusion is unwarranted by the authors' own analysis. On the contrary, within the framework outlined by the authors, I argue that the implications of the relational interpretation are much more radical.
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…
Physicists describe nature using mathematics as the natural language, and for quantum mechanics, it prefers to use complex numbers. However, whether complex numbers are really necessary for the theory has been debated ever since its birth. Recently, it has been shown that a three-party correlation created in entanglement swapping scenarios comprising independent states and measurements cannot be reproduced using only real numbers. Previous experiments have conceptually supported the predication, yet not satisfying the independent state preparations and measurements simultaneously. Here, we imp…
According to an argument proposed by Stapp, Quantum Mechanics violates the Locality Principle if the two hypotheses of {\sl Free Choices} and {\sl No backward-in-time influence} are assumed to hold, without the need of introducing hidden variables or criteria of reality. We develop an approach that endows the new hypotheses with a logico-mathematical formulation which allow us to perform an analysis of Stapp's argument, based on ordinary, not counterfactual, logic. According to our results, the analyzed argument is not able to conclude that Quantum Mechanics violates the Locality Principle.
The aim of the paper is to investigate the characterization of an unambiguous notion of causation linking single space-llike separated events in EPR-Bell frameworks. This issue is investigated in ordinary quantum mechanics, with some hints to no collapse formulations of the theory such as Bohmian mechanics.
I argue that quantum mechanics is a realistic theory, but it violates either strong locality (no superluminal influences) or strict causality (diiferent effects cannot follow from the same cause).
One of the authors has recently propounded an SR (semantic realism) model which shows, circumventing known no-go theorems, that an objective (noncontextual, hence local) interpretation of quantum mechanics (QM) is possible. We consider here compound physical systems and show why the proofs of nonlocality of QM do not hold within the SR model. We also discuss quantum measurement theory within this model, note that the objectification problem disappears since the measurement of any property simply reveals its unknown value, and show that the projection postulate can be considered as an approxima…
Bell's theorem of 1965 is a proof that all realistic interpretations of quantum mechanics must be non-local. Bell's theorem consists of two parts: first a correlation inequality is derived that must be satisfied by all local realistic theories; second it is demonstrated that quantum mechanical probabilities violate this inequality in certain cases. In the case of ideal experiments, Bell's theorem has been proven. However, in the case of real experiments where polarizers and detectors are non-ideal, the theorem has not yet been proven since the proof always requires some arbitrary and {\em ad h…
Non-locality, or quantum-non-locality, are buzzwords in the community of quantum foundation and information scientists, which purportedly describe the implications of Bell's theorem. When such phrases are treated seriously, that is it is claimed that Bell's theorem reveals non-locality as an inherent trait of the quantum description of the micro-world, this leads to logical contradictions, which will be discussed here. In fact, Bell's theorem, understood as violation of Bell inequalities by quantum predictions, is consistent with Bohr's notion of complementarity. Thus, if it points to anything…
A new interpretation of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics explains the violation of Bell's inequality by maintaining realism and the principle of locality.
Wave functions live on configuration space. Schrodinger called this entanglement. The linearity of the Schrodinger equation prevents the wave function from representing reality. If the equation were non-linear (e.g., reduction models) the wave function living on configuration space still by itself could not represent reality in physical space. In this paper, we continue the line of reasoning discussed in our previous paper, "The Fundamental Importance of Discourse in Theoretical Physics", [arXiv:1001.4111], to explore the "measurement problem" in quantum mechanics. In particular we present a n…
We attempt to pull together various lines of research whose ultimate conclusion points to the actual ``locality'' of Quantum Mechanics (QM). We note that just as John Bell discovered various errors in previous ``proofs'' of the completeness of QM, he made an error of his own in deriving the ``non-locality'' of QM. We show that QM satisfies the correct locality bound for non-commuting variables -- and is therefore local for 2 or more particles. We further show that the entangled wavefunctions that produce non-local de-Broglie-Bohm guidance equations are an artifact of First Quantization, and th…
Categorical quantum mechanics studies quantum theory in the framework of dagger-compact closed categories. Using this framework, we establish a tight relationship between two key quantum theoretical notions: non-locality and complementarity. In particular, we establish a direct connection between Mermin-type non-locality scenarios, which we generalise to an arbitrary number of parties, using systems of arbitrary dimension, and performing arbitrary measurements, and a new stronger notion of complementarity which we introduce here. Our derivation of the fact that strong complementarity is a nece…
Without imposing the locality condition,it is shown that quantum mechanics cannot reproduce all the predictions of a special stochastic realistic model used in certain spin-correlation experiments.This shows that the so-called locality condition is an unnecessary assumption of Bell's theorem.
We analyze the property of locality with respect to the framework for quantum mechanics based on the path integral formalism. As is well known, this framework makes the same experimental predictions as does the one based on a separable Hilbert space and the Schrödinger equation.
The view exists that the Bell inequality is a mere inconsistent application of classical concepts to a well-established quantum world. In the article, ``Nonlocality claims are inconsistent with Hilbert-space quantum mechanics'' [Phys. Rev. A, 101, 022117, (2020)], Robert B. Griffiths advocates for quantum theory's locality. Although R. B. Griffiths presents valuable insights in favor of quantum mechanics' local character, he argues the Bell inequality is an inconsistent application of classical physics to quantum mechanics. We explain why a correct assessment of the Bell inequality does not in…
The structure of Bell-type inequalities detecting genuine multipartite non-locality, and hence detecting genuine multipartite entanglement, is investigated. We first present a simple and intuitive approach to Svetlichny's original inequality, which provides a clear understanding of its structure and of its violation in quantum mechanics. Based on this approach, we then derive a family of Bell-type inequalities for detecting genuine multipartite non-locality in scenarios involving an arbitrary number of parties and systems of arbitrary dimension. Finally we discuss the thightness and quantum me…
After a review of the problems induced by the Lorentz signature of Minkowski space-time, like the need of a clock synchronization convention for the definition of 3-space and the complexity of the notion of relativistic center of mass, there is the introduction of a new formulation of relativistic quantum mechanics compatible with the theory of relativistic bound states. In it the zeroth postulate of non-relativistic quantum mechanics is not valid and the physics is described in the rest frame by a Hilbert space containing only relative variables. The non-locality of the Poincare' generators i…
Bell's theorem states that some quantum correlations can not be represented by classical correlations of separated random variables. It has been interpreted as incompatibility of the requirement of locality with quantum mechanics. We point out that in fact the space part of the wave function was neglected in the proof of Bell's theorem. However this space part is crucial for considerations of property of locality of quantum system. Actually the space part leads to an extra factor in quantum correlations and as a result the ordinary proof of Bell's theorem fails in this case. We present a crite…
Recent discussions by Mermin [1] and Stapp [2] in this journal on non-locality and counterfactuality are shown to contain linguistic problems that require verification. As such they can at most provide us with two subjective choices for the meaning of 'counterfactual statements' in quantum mechanics. We shall show that the word 'counterfactual' is in fact inappropriate here and should be replaced by the word 'hypothetical'. Mermin's choice imposes a strictly contextual meaning based upon an interpretation of counterfactuality which he used to refute, without proof as we shall see, Stapp's logi…
I present the background of the Bohm approach that led John Bell to a study of quantum non-locality from which his famous inequalities emerged. I recall the early experiments done at Birkbeck with an aim to explore the possibility of `spontaneous collapse', a way suggested by Schrödinger to avoid the conclusion that quantum mechanics was grossly non-local. I also review some of the work that John did which directly impinged on my own investigations into the foundations of quantum mechanics and report some new investigations towards a more fundamental theory.
We construct a space of ideal elements (particles and their paths) to analyze certain aspects of quantum physics. The particles are taken from a model of particle interaction first described by David Deutsch (based on a different but related framework, that of MWI), and the paths are based on Richard Feynman's path-integral formulation of quantum mechanics. By combining the two systems we develop a new approach to quantum mechanics that eliminates various quantum paradoxes.
The sheaf theoretic description of non-locality and contextuality by Abramsky and Brandenburger sets the ground for a topological study of these peculiar features of quantum mechanics. This viewpoint has been recently developed thanks to sheaf cohomology, which provides a sufficient condition for contextuality of empirical models in quantum mechanics and beyond. Subsequently, a number of studies proposed methods to detect contextuality based on different cohomology theories. However, none of these cohomological descriptions succeeds in giving a full invariant for contextuality applicable to co…
It is argued that while quantum mechanics contains nonlocal or entangled states, the instantaneous or nonlocal influences sometimes thought to be present due to violations of Bell inequalities in fact arise from mistaken attempts to apply classical concepts and introduce probabilities in a manner inconsistent with the Hilbert space structure of standard quantum mechanics. Instead, Einstein locality is a valid quantum principle: objective properties of individual quantum systems do not change when something is done to another noninteracting system. There is no reason to suspect any conflict bet…
Quantum mechanics predicts correlation between spacelike separated events which is widely argued to violate the principle of Local Causality. By contrast, here we shall show that the Schrödinger equation with Born's statistical interpretation of wave function and uncertainty relation can be derived from a statistical model of microscopic stochastic deviation from classical mechanics which is selected uniquely, up to a free parameter, by the principle of Local Causality. Quantization is thus argued to be physical and Planck constant acquires an interpretation as the average stochastic deviation…
We discuss the locality problem in relativistic and nonrelativistic quantum theory. We show that there exists a formulation of quantum theory that, on one hand, preserves the mathematical apparatus of the standard quantum mechanics and, on the other hand, ensures the satisfaction of the locality condition for each individual event including the measurement procedure. As an example, we consider the scattering from two slits.
A large number of physicists now admit that quantum mechanics is a non local theory. The EPR argument and the many experiments (including recent loop-hole free tests) showing the violation of Bell's inequalities seem to have confirmed convincingly that quantum mechanics cannot be local. Nevertheless, this conclusion can only be drawn inside a standard realist framework assuming an ontic interpretation of the wave function and viewing the collapse of the wave function as a real change in the physical state of the system. We show that this standpoint is not mandatory and that if the collapse is …
We show here that the recent work of Wolf and Wullschleger (quant-ph/0502030) on oblivious transfer apparently opens the possibility that non-local correlations which are stronger than those in quantum mechanics could be used for bit-commitment. This is surprising, because it is the very existence of non-local correlations which in quantum mechanics prevents bit-commitment. We resolve this apparent paradox by stressing the difference between non-local correlations and oblivious transfer, based on the time-ordering of their inputs and outputs, which prevents bit-commitment.
