Can String Theory Explain the Nonlocality of Particles and Waves?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between string theory and the concepts of locality and non-locality in the context of particles and waves. Participants explore how the wave-particle duality might be explained through string theory, questioning whether strings themselves exhibit local or non-local properties.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that if particles are made of strings, then strings could potentially exhibit both local and non-local characteristics.
  • Others argue that the wave-particle nature arises from the quantization of strings, where classical variables are replaced by operators acting on quantum states.
  • A participant expresses confusion about the implications of relativistic covariance in string theory, questioning how it relates to non-locality.
  • Another participant clarifies that non-locality, as understood in quantum mechanics, does not imply that causes can act over spacelike intervals, which is a crucial aspect of relativistic covariance.
  • Some participants discuss the concept of entanglement and its relation to non-locality, with differing interpretations of how these concepts apply to string theory.
  • One participant seeks clarification on the meaning of non-locality, referencing Einstein's term "spooky action-at-a-distance" and its implications for particle interactions.
  • A later reply questions the characterization of protons as behaving non-locally, asking for further elaboration on this premise.
  • Another participant attempts to reframe the question by linking the wave aspect of particles to the properties of their constituent strings, seeking to understand how string theory incorporates this feature.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of non-locality in relation to string theory, with no consensus reached on whether strings inherently possess non-local properties or how they relate to the wave-particle duality of particles.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying interpretations of non-locality and entanglement, as well as the dependence on definitions of terms like "relativistically covariant." The discussion also reflects a range of understanding regarding the implications of string theory on these concepts.

  • #31
Two strings can be nonlocally entangled in the same way as two particles can be nonlocally entangled. However, as a single string is nonlocal by itself, there is an additional form of nonlocality in string theory - an entanglement between different parts of the string.

The hidden-variable formulations of quantum mechanics make this entanglement nonlocality manifest. The most successfull hidden-variable theory is the Bohmian interpretation. For the case of strings see
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0605250
But can string theory bring a new explanation of this nonlocality? In
http://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/0512186
it is suggested that the Bohmian interpretation can be DERIVED from string theory, so in this sense the answer could be - yes!
 

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