Ghostly action at a distance: A non-technical explanation of the Bell inequality

Alford, Mark

doi:10.1119/1.4945408

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This is in total analogy to the Lorentz transformations of special relativity (SR) being based on the relativity principle as it pertains to the invariant measurement of the speed of light c (light postulate). Thus, the information-theoretic reconstructions of QM (hereafter, “reconstructions of QM”) provide a “principle” account of QM in total analogy to that of SR [ 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 ], revealing a deep unity between these pillars of modern physics where others have perceived tension [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Preferred Reference Frame at the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

Stuckey

McDevitt

Silberstein

2021

Entropy

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Quantum information theorists have created axiomatic reconstructions of quantum mechanics (QM) that are very successful at identifying precisely what distinguishes quantum probability theory from classical and more general probability theories in terms of information-theoretic principles. Herein, we show how one such principle, Information Invariance and Continuity, at the foundation of those axiomatic reconstructions, maps to “no preferred reference frame” (NPRF, aka “the relativity principle”) as it pertains to the invariant measurement of Planck’s constant h for Stern-Gerlach (SG) spin measurements. This is in exact analogy to the relativity principle as it pertains to the invariant measurement of the speed of light c at the foundation of special relativity (SR). Essentially, quantum information theorists have extended Einstein’s use of NPRF from the boost invariance of measurements of c to include the SO(3) invariance of measurements of h between different reference frames of mutually complementary spin measurements via the principle of Information Invariance and Continuity. Consequently, the “mystery” of the Bell states is understood to result from conservation per Information Invariance and Continuity between different reference frames of mutually complementary qubit measurements, and this maps to conservation per NPRF in spacetime. If one falsely conflates the relativity principle with the classical theory of SR, then it may seem impossible that the relativity principle resides at the foundation of non-relativisitic QM. In fact, there is nothing inherently classical or quantum about NPRF. Thus, the axiomatic reconstructions of QM have succeeded in producing a principle account of QM that reveals as much about Nature as the postulates of SR.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No Preferred Reference Frame at the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

Stuckey

McDevitt

Silberstein

2021

Entropy

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“…This is what we are attempting to do here. It may seem a bit counterintuitive that NPRF underwrites both SR and QM, since quantum entanglement has been alleged by some to imply faster-than-light influences contra SR [ 67 , 68 , 69 ]. Per Popescu and Rohrlich [ 65 ]: Quantum mechanics, which does not allow us to transmit signals faster than light, preserves relativistic causality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Causal Explanation: Einstein’s Principle Not Reichenbach’s

Silberstein

Stuckey

McDevitt

2021

Entropy

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Our account provides a local, realist and fully non-causal principle explanation for EPR correlations, contextuality, no-signalling, and the Tsirelson bound. Indeed, the account herein is fully consistent with the causal structure of Minkowski spacetime. We argue that retrocausal accounts of quantum mechanics are problematic precisely because they do not fully transcend the assumption that causal or constructive explanation must always be fundamental. Unlike retrocausal accounts, our principle explanation is a complete rejection of Reichenbach’s Principle. Furthermore, we will argue that the basis for our principle account of quantum mechanics is the physical principle sought by quantum information theorists for their reconstructions of quantum mechanics. Finally, we explain why our account is both fully realist and psi-epistemic.

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“…This is in total analogy to the Lorentz transformations of special relativity (SR) being based on the relativity principle as it pertains to the invariant measurement of the speed of light c (light postulate). Thus, the reconstructions of QM provide a "principle" account of QM in total analogy to that of SR [22,[24][25][26], revealing a deep unity between these pillars of modern physics where others have perceived tension [27][28][29][30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relativity Principle at the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

Stuckey,

McDevitt,

Silberstein

2021

Preprint

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Quantum information theorists have created axiomatic reconstructions of quantum mechanics (QM) that are very successful at identifying precisely what distinguishes quantum probability theory from classical and more general probability theories in terms of information-theoretic principles.Herein, we show how two such principles, i.e., "Existence of an Information Unit" and "Continuous Reversibility," map to the relativity principle as it pertains to the invariant measurement of Planck's constant h for Stern-Gerlach (SG) spin measurements in spacetime in exact analogy to the relativity principle as it pertains to the invariant measurement of the speed of light c for special relativity (SR). Essentially, quantum information theorists have extended Einstein's use of the relativity principle from the boost invariance of measurements of c to include the SO(3) invariance of measurements of h between different reference frames of mutually complementary spin measurements via the principle of "Information Invariance & Continuity." Consequently, the "average-only" conservation represented by the Bell states that is responsible for the Tsirelson bound and the exclusion of the no-signalling, "superquantum" Popescu-Rohrlich joint probabilities is understood to result from conservation per Information Invariance & Continuity between different reference frames of mutually complementary measurements, and this maps to conservation per the relativity principle in spacetime. Thus, the axiomatic reconstructions of QM have succeeded in producing a principle account of QM that is every bit as robust as the postulates of SR, revealing a still broader role for the relativity principle in the foundations of physics.

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Ghostly action at a distance: A non-technical explanation of the Bell inequality

Cited by 11 publications

References 29 publications

No Preferred Reference Frame at the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

No Preferred Reference Frame at the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

Beyond Causal Explanation: Einstein’s Principle Not Reichenbach’s

The Relativity Principle at the Foundation of Quantum Mechanics

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