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Progress in physics

Spooky Action at a Distance or Action at a Spooky Distance

Sebastiano Tosto

Published Jan 1, 2012• 2 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The paper demonstrates that the non-locality and non-reality of the quantum world are \ndirect consequences of the concept of uncertainty. It is also shown that the analysis of \nstates in the phase space entails the operator formalism of wave mechanics. While being \nwell known that the uncertainty principle is a consequence of the commutation rules of \noperators, the paper shows that the reverse path is also possible; i.e. the uncertainty \nequations entails themselves the operators and wave equations of energy and momen- \ntum. The same theoretical approach has been eventually extended to infer significant \nresults of the special relativity.

Related papers

Local Quantum Mechanics

Abstract Initially proposed by Hugh Everett III as the “theory of the universal wave function,” the many worlds interpretation has since been developed and refined into one of the most influential ways of giving meaning to quantum mechanics. This volume explores the idea that if one adopts the many worlds interpretation, then one can avoid what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance,” the non-locality that is supposed to be a consequence of quantum entanglement according to other approaches. The essays in this volume articulate a clear and defensible formulation of the argument from locality for preferring the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics over its rivals and evaluate it. They question in what sense those in quantum foundations should care about locality, in particular, whether and how an interpretation of quantum mechanics must avoid action at a distance in order to maintain consistency with special relativity. Finally, these essays assess whether the many worlds theory needs a particular metaphysical or mathematical interpretation in order to achieve the aim of providing a local interpretation of quantum mechanics.

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An Analysis of States in the Phase Space: From Quantum Mechanics to General Relativity

Sebastiano Tosto

The paper has heuristic character. The conceptual frame, based on the assumption of quantum uncertainty only, has been formerly introduced in two papers [S. Tosto, Il Nuovo Cimento B, vol. 111, n.2, 1996 and S. Tosto, Il Nuovo Cimento D, vol. 18, n.12, 1996]. Instead of attempting to increase the accuracy of some existing computational model through a new kind of approximation, these papers acknowledge since the beginning the lack of deterministic information about the local properties of the constituent particles, considered random, unknown and unpredictable and thus ignored in principle. The leading idea is that the physical properties of quantum systems could be inferred merely considering the delocalization ranges of dynamical variables, rather than their local values. In effect, despite the agnostic character of the approach proposed, both papers show that the kind of physical information reachable reproduces exactly in all cases examined that obtained solving the pertinent wave equations. The concept of quantum uncertainty is further extended in the present paper to both space and time coordinates, considering thus a unique spacetime delocalization range and still discarding since the beginning the local values of the conjugate dynamical variables. The paper shows an unexpected wealth of information obtainable simply extending the concept of space uncertainty to that of spacetime uncertainty: the results are inherently consistent with that of the operator formalism of wave mechanics and with the basic postulates of special relativity, both inferred as corollaries. Moreover, even the gravity appears to be essentially a quantum phenomenon. The most relevant outcomes of special and general relativity are achieved as straightforward consequence of the space-time delocalization of particles using the simple quantum formalism first introduced in the early papers.

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The Uncertainty Principle Determines the Nonlocality of Quantum Mechanics

Jonathan Oppenheim, Stephanie Wehner

Two central concepts of quantum mechanics are Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and a subtle form of nonlocality that Einstein famously called "spooky action at a distance." These two fundamental features have thus far been distinct concepts. We show that they are inextricably and quantitatively linked: Quantum mechanics cannot be more nonlocal with measurements that respect the uncertainty principle. In fact, the link between uncertainty and nonlocality holds for all physical theories. More specifically, the degree of nonlocality of any theory is determined by two factors: the strength of the uncertainty principle and the strength of a property called "steering," which determines which states can be prepared at one location given a measurement at another.

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The Problem of Locality and a Relational Interpretation of the Wave Function

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It is argued that many of the so‐called “mysteries” of quantum mechanics like the “particle‐wave duality” or the “spooky action at a distance” loose their weirdness if space itself, the “embedding” of quantum objects into space, and the entanglement among quantum objects are interpreted as relational concepts. Extended to space‐time, this approach may allow for a new interpretation of Haag’s localization of events.

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S. P. Boughn

Einstein became bothered by quantum mechanical action at a distance within two years of Schrödinger's introduction of his eponymous wave equation. If the wave function represents the "real" physical state of a particle, then the measurement of the particle's position would result in the instantaneous collapse of the wave function to the single, measured position. Such a process seemingly violates not only the Schrödinger equation but also special relativity. Einstein was not alone in this vexation; however, the dilemma eventually faded as physicists concentrated on using the Schrödinger equation to solve a plethora of pressing problems. For the next 30 years, wave function collapse, while occasionally discussed by physicists, was primarily a topic of interest for philosophers. That is, until 1964, when Bell introduced his famous inequality and maintained that its violation proved that quantum mechanics and, by implication, nature herself are nonlocal. Unfortunately, this brought the topic back to mainstream physics, where it has remained and continues to muddy the waters. To be sure, not all physicists are bothered by the apparent nonlocality of quantum mechanics. So where have those who embrace quantum nonlocality gone wrong? I argue that the answer is a gratuitous belief in the ontic nature of the quantum state.

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Einstein maintained that quantum metaphysics entails spooky actions at a distance; experiments have now shown that what bothered Einstein is not a debatable point but the observed behavior of the real world.

Physics Today•Jan 1, 2025•6 citations
The paper demonstrates that the non-locality and non-reality of the quantum world are \ndirect consequences of the concept of uncertainty. It is also shown that the analysis of \nstates in the phase space entails the operator formalism of wave mechanics. While being \nwell known that the uncertainty principle is a consequence of the commutation rules of \noperators, the paper shows that the reverse path is also possible; i.e. the uncertainty \nequations entails themselves the operators and wave equations of energy and momen- \ntum. The same theoretical approach has been eventually extended to infer significant \nresults of the special relativity.
Abstract Initially proposed by Hugh Everett III as the “theory of the universal wave function,” the many worlds interpretation has since been developed and refined into one of the most influential ways of giving meaning to quantum mechanics. This volume explores the idea that if one adopts the many worlds interpretation, then one can avoid what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance,” the non-locality that is supposed to be a consequence of quantum entanglement according to other approaches. The essays in this volume articulate a clear and defensible formulation of the argument from locality for preferring the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics over its rivals and evaluate it. They question in what sense those in quantum foundations should care about locality, in particular, whether and how an interpretation of quantum mechanics must avoid action at a distance in order to maintain consistency with special relativity. Finally, these essays assess whether the many worlds theory needs a particular metaphysical or mathematical interpretation in order to achieve the aim of providing a local interpretation of quantum mechanics.
The paper has heuristic character. The conceptual frame, based on the assumption of quantum uncertainty only, has been formerly introduced in two papers [S. Tosto, Il Nuovo Cimento B, vol. 111, n.2, 1996 and S. Tosto, Il Nuovo Cimento D, vol. 18, n.12, 1996]. Instead of attempting to increase the accuracy of some existing computational model through a new kind of approximation, these papers acknowledge since the beginning the lack of deterministic information about the local properties of the constituent particles, considered random, unknown and unpredictable and thus ignored in principle. The leading idea is that the physical properties of quantum systems could be inferred merely considering the delocalization ranges of dynamical variables, rather than their local values. In effect, despite the agnostic character of the approach proposed, both papers show that the kind of physical information reachable reproduces exactly in all cases examined that obtained solving the pertinent wave equations. The concept of quantum uncertainty is further extended in the present paper to both space and time coordinates, considering thus a unique spacetime delocalization range and still discarding since the beginning the local values of the conjugate dynamical variables. The paper shows an unexpected wealth of information obtainable simply extending the concept of space uncertainty to that of spacetime uncertainty: the results are inherently consistent with that of the operator formalism of wave mechanics and with the basic postulates of special relativity, both inferred as corollaries. Moreover, even the gravity appears to be essentially a quantum phenomenon. The most relevant outcomes of special and general relativity are achieved as straightforward consequence of the space-time delocalization of particles using the simple quantum formalism first introduced in the early papers.
Two central concepts of quantum mechanics are Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and a subtle form of nonlocality that Einstein famously called "spooky action at a distance." These two fundamental features have thus far been distinct concepts. We show that they are inextricably and quantitatively linked: Quantum mechanics cannot be more nonlocal with measurements that respect the uncertainty principle. In fact, the link between uncertainty and nonlocality holds for all physical theories. More specifically, the degree of nonlocality of any theory is determined by two factors: the strength of the uncertainty principle and the strength of a property called "steering," which determines which states can be prepared at one location given a measurement at another.
Einstein became bothered by quantum mechanical action at a distance within two years of Schrödinger's introduction of his eponymous wave equation. If the wave function represents the "real" physical state of a particle, then the measurement of the particle's position would result in the instantaneous collapse of the wave function to the single, measured position. Such a process seemingly violates not only the Schrödinger equation but also special relativity. Einstein was not alone in this vexation; however, the dilemma eventually faded as physicists concentrated on using the Schrödinger equation to solve a plethora of pressing problems. For the next 30 years, wave function collapse, while occasionally discussed by physicists, was primarily a topic of interest for philosophers. That is, until 1964, when Bell introduced his famous inequality and maintained that its violation proved that quantum mechanics and, by implication, nature herself are nonlocal. Unfortunately, this brought the topic back to mainstream physics, where it has remained and continues to muddy the waters. To be sure, not all physicists are bothered by the apparent nonlocality of quantum mechanics. So where have those who embrace quantum nonlocality gone wrong? I argue that the answer is a gratuitous belief in the ontic nature of the quantum state.