What interpretations break causality instead of locality?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around interpretations of quantum mechanics (QM) that challenge the concepts of causality and locality, particularly in the context of Bell's theorem. Participants explore various interpretations and their implications for causality and locality, sharing resources and insights related to these interpretations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions that according to Bell's theorem, an interpretation of QM must break either locality or causality and seeks other interpretations that maintain locality.
  • Another participant provides a link to a list of local approaches to QM.
  • There is a discussion about various interpretations, including the Copenhagen interpretation and Many Worlds, with some participants expressing surprise at their classification as local.
  • Backward causation is mentioned, with a participant assuming the causally symmetric Bohm model fits this category.
  • Noncommutative hidden variables are referenced, with a participant expressing skepticism about Joy Christian's views.
  • Several resources are shared, including Cramer's Generalized absorber theory and works by Aharonov and others, which are related to time-symmetry in QM and other interpretations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on which interpretations maintain locality and which break causality, indicating that multiple competing views remain. The discussion does not reach a consensus on the classifications of various interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Some interpretations are presented with uncertainty regarding their classification as local or non-local, and there are references to skepticism about certain theorists and their ideas. The discussion includes various interpretations that may not be universally accepted or understood.

thenewmans
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By Bell’s theorem, an interpretation of QM must break either locality or causality. Linked below is the only interpretation I know of that chooses to maintain locality. (I don't know many.) Do you know of any others?

CAUSALLY SYMMETRIC BOHM MODEL
http://arxiv.org/ftp/quant-ph/papers/0601/0601095.pdf
 
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For a list of local approaches see
https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php?b=3622
 
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Demystifier said:
For a list of local approaches see
https://www.physicsforums.com/blog.php?b=3622
Cool. Thanks.

  • Copenhagen - Copenhagen is local? I didn't know that.
  • many worlds - Many worlds is local? I didn't know that either.
  • superdeterminism - Sounds crazy but I'll read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdeterminism
  • backward causation - I assume the causally symmetric Bohm model counts as one of these. Otherwise I can't find this interpretation.
  • noncommutative hidden variables - I hear Joy Christian is a crackpot Bell denier.
  • Your solipsistic hidden variables - Cool. I'll have to read this one ... if I can
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Cramer's Generalized absorber theory and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox:

http://www.npl.washington.edu/npl/int_rep/gat_80/

-----

New Insights on Time-Symmetry in Quantum Mechanics
by Yakir Aharonov, Jeff Tollaksen

http://arxiv.org/abs/0706.1232

-----

Relational Blockworld: Towards a Discrete Graph Theoretic Foundation of Quantum Mechanics
by W.M. Stuckey, Timothy McDevitt, Michael Silberstein

http://arxiv.org/abs/0903.2642
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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