Hidden Background Field and Quantum Non-Locality

N. David Mermin

Wikström, Björn

Bell's theorem (1964) excludes local hidden-variable completions of quantum mechanics.This paper argues that the theorem does not exclude non-local ontological completion, andthat the Field component of the Field–Node–Cockpit (FNC) model satisfies the constraintsBell's result imposes on any viable hidden variable. The proposal is interpretive, notrevisionary: it does not modify quantum mechanical predictions but offers a frameworkwithin which quantum non-locality and phenomenal consciousness become aspects of asingle ontological structure. The paper distinguishes carefully between empirical claims (Bellviolations), ontological proposals (Field as ground), and phenomenological implications(consciousness as Field-access), arguing that these levels are compatible butmethodologically distinct.Keywords: Bell's theorem, hidden variables, non-locality, consciousness,Field–Node–Cockpit model, philosophy of physics

Louis Vervoort

In a recent article Giustina et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 250401 (2015)] report on an advanced Bell experiment, simultaneously closing loopholes for local hidden-variable theories. The authors claim that 'local realism' has been refuted, unless 'truly exotic hypotheses' are made. Here I argue that a particularly wide and natural class of local hidden-variable theories survives, for instance when the hidden variables describe a background field. Such background-based theories exploit the freedom-of-choice loophole, which cannot be closed for this type of hidden variables. The dynamics of such models can be illustrated by existing systems, e.g. from fluid mechanics.

Stefano Pironio

Reinhard F. Werner

It is shown that a main source of conflict between Einstein and the mainstream quantum physicists was his insistence that wave functions, like classical probability distributions, do not refer to individual particles and, in particular, do not describe individual systems completely. The EPR paper was written to argue for this position. By aiming at showing that wave functions are unsuitable as local hidden variables, the authors failed to see that a slight extension could have ruled out such local hidden variables in general. As background for this analysis of the EPR argument the notion of steering is described, and a version of the Bell argument is proved which emphasizes non-local signalling aspects. Finally, some background is given concerning a well-known paper by the present author, which is celebrating 25 years this year, and in which the first non-steering models were constructed. This article is part of a special issue of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical devoted to '50 years of Bell's theorem'.

David A. Roberts, H. H. Wills