A violation of Bell-CHSH inequalities does not justify speculations about quantum non-locality, conspiracy and retro-causation. Such speculations are rooted in a belief that setting dependence of hidden variables in a probabilistic model (called a violation of measurement independence (MI)) would mean a violation of experimenters’ freedom of choice. This belief is unfounded because it is based on a questionable use of Bayes Theorem and on incorrect causal interpretation of conditional probabilities. In Bell-local realistic model, hidden variables describe only photonic beams created by a source, thus they cannot depend on randomly chosen experimental settings. However, if hidden variables describing measuring instruments are correctly incorporated into a contextual probabilistic model a violation of inequalities and an apparent violation of no-signaling reported in Bell tests can be explained without evoking quantum non-locality. Therefore, for us, a violation of Bell-CHSH inequalities proves only that hidden variables have to depend on settings confirming contextual character of quantum observables and an active role played by measuring instruments. Bell thought that he had to choose between non-locality and the violation of experimenters’ freedom of choice. From two bad choices he chose non-locality. Today he would probably choose the violation of MI understood as contextuality.A violation of Bell-CHSH inequalities does not justify speculations about quantum non-locality, conspiracy and retro-causation. Such speculations are rooted in a belief that setting dependence of hidden variables in a probabilistic model (called a violation of measurement independence (MI)) would mean a violation of experimenters’ freedom of choice. This belief is unfounded because it is based on a questionable use of Bayes Theorem and on incorrect causal interpretation of conditional probabilities. In Bell-local realistic model, hidden variables describe only photonic beams created by a source, thus they cannot depend on randomly chosen experimental settings. However, if hidden variables describing measuring instruments are correctly incorporated into a contextual probabilistic model a violation of inequalities and an apparent violation of no-signaling reported in Bell tests can be explained without evoking quantum non-locality. Therefore, for us, a violation of Bell-CHSH inequalities proves only that hidden variables have to depend on settings confirming contextual character of quantum observables and an active role played by measuring instruments. Bell thought that he had to choose between non-locality and the violation of experimenters’ freedom of choice. From two bad choices he chose non-locality. Today he would probably choose the violation of MI understood as contextuality.

arXiv:2202.09639EntropyFeb 2, 202320 citations

Non-locality, Contextuality and Transition sets

Westman, Hans

We discuss quantum non-locality and contextuality using the notion of transition sets. This approach provides a way to obtain a direct logical contradiction with locality/non-contextuality in the EPRB gedanken experiment as well as a clear graphical illustration of what violations of Bell inequalities quantify. In particular, we show graphically how these violations are related to measures of non-local transition sets. We also introduce a new form of contextuality, {\em measurement ordering contextuality}, i.e. there exists commuting operators $\hat{\mathcal{A}}$ and $\hat{\mathcal{B}}$ such that the outcome for $\hat{\mathcal{A}}$ depends on whether we measured $\hat{\mathcal{B}}$ before or after $\hat{\mathcal{A}}$ . It is shown (excluding retro-causal and/or conspiratorial theories) that any hidden variable theory capable of reproducing the quantum statistics has to have this property. This generalizes yet another feature of the hidden variable theory of deBroglie and Bohm.We discuss quantum non-locality and contextuality using the notion of transition sets. This approach provides a way to obtain a direct logical contradiction with locality/non-contextuality in the EPRB gedanken experiment as well as a clear graphical illustration of what violations of Bell inequalities quantify. In particular, we show graphically how these violations are related to measures of non-local transition sets. We also introduce a new form of contextuality, {\em measurement ordering contextuality}, i.e. there exists commuting operators $\hat{\mathcal{A}}$ and $\hat{\mathcal{B}}$ such that the outcome for $\hat{\mathcal{A}}$ depends on whether we measured $\hat{\mathcal{B}}$ before or after $\hat{\mathcal{A}}$. It is shown (excluding retro-causal and/or conspiratorial theories) that any hidden variable theory capable of reproducing the quantum statistics has to have this property. This generalizes yet another feature of the hidden variable theory of deBroglie and Bohm.

arXiv:0711.2653Nov 16, 20071 citation

Locality Is Dead! Long Live Locality!

William Sulis

Several decades of theory and experiment into EPR correlations have led to the widely held belief that reality is non-local, in spite of the fact that this violates special relativity. To date, no experiment has shown a violation of special relativity, and EPR experiments do not demonstrate the existence of superluminal information exchange, merely correlations which violate certain inequalities. Every “loophole” in these hidden variable theories has been thought plugged. However, there is much confusion in the literature due to conflation of the terms ‘locality”, “realism”, “hidden variables”, “non-contextuality”. The presence of local hidden variables is thought to necessarily lead to a Kolmogorov probability structure (hence non-contextuality), but this is an assumption, one which is not true in general once context effects are taken into account. Treated as an observational theory, several authors have shown no incompatibility between quantum mechanics and locality, and that the Bell scenario is actually about whether reality is contextual. This paper proposes a descriptive theory by assuming a generated reality (following Whitehead’s Process Theory) which can violate the principle of continuity and possess non-Kolmogorov probability structure, and reproduce the results of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, while allowing only causally local information exchange, without hidden variables. A generated reality is thus compatible with both quantum mechanics and special relativity, reproducing all of the results expected from quantum mechanics while still maintaining causally local realism. This process model thus appears to be an ideal candidate for developing theories for the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity.Several decades of theory and experiment into EPR correlations have led to the widely held belief that reality is non-local, in spite of the fact that this violates special relativity. To date, no experiment has shown a violation of special relativity, and EPR experiments do not demonstrate the existence of superluminal information exchange, merely correlations which violate certain inequalities. Every “loophole” in these hidden variable theories has been thought plugged. However, there is much confusion in the literature due to conflation of the terms ‘locality”, “realism”, “hidden variables”, “non-contextuality”. The presence of local hidden variables is thought to necessarily lead to a Kolmogorov probability structure (hence non-contextuality), but this is an assumption, one which is not true in general once context effects are taken into account. Treated as an observational theory, several authors have shown no incompatibility between quantum mechanics and locality, and that the Bell scenario is actually about whether reality is contextual. This paper proposes a descriptive theory by assuming a generated reality (following Whitehead’s Process Theory) which can violate the principle of continuity and possess non-Kolmogorov probability structure, and reproduce the results of non-relativistic quantum mechanics, while allowing only causally local information exchange, without hidden variables. A generated reality is thus compatible with both quantum mechanics and special relativity, reproducing all of the results expected from quantum mechanics while still maintaining causally local realism. This process model thus appears to be an ideal candidate for developing theories for the unification of quantum mechanics and general relativity.

Frontiers in PhysicsSep 15, 202015 citations

\hat{\mathcal{A}}

and

\hat{\mathcal{B}}

such that the outcome for

\hat{\mathcal{A}}

depends on whether we measured

\hat{\mathcal{B}}

before or after

\hat{\mathcal{A}}

. It is shown (excluding retro-causal and/or conspiratorial theories) that any hidden variable theory capable of reproducing the quantum statistics has to have this property. This generalizes yet another feature of the hidden variable theory of deBroglie and Bohm.