arXiv:0711.4650 · Journal of Physics A Mathematical and Theoretical

A classification of hidden-variable properties

Adam M. Brandenburger, Noson S. Yanofsky

Published Sep 26, 2008• 48 citations

Abstract

Hidden variables are extra components added to try to banish counterintuitive features of quantum mechanics. We start with a quantum-mechanical model and describe various properties that can be asked of a hidden-variable model. We present six such properties and a Venn diagram of how they are related. With two existence theorems and three no-go theorems (EPR, Bell, and Kochen-Specker), we show which properties of empirically equivalent hidden-variable models are possible and which are not. Formally, our treatment relies only on classical probability models, and physical phenomena are used only to motivate which models to choose.

DOI: 10.1088/1751-8113/41/42/425302

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