dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaForms of Quantum Nonseparability and Related Philosophical Consequences
| Authors | Vassilios Karakostas |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/0502099 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0502099 |
| Journal | Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 2004,35, pp. 283-312 |
Abstract
Standard quantum mechanics unquestionably violates the separability principle that classical physics (be it point-like analytic, statistical, or field-theoretic) accustomed us to consider as valid. In this paper, quantum nonseparability is viewed as a consequence of the Hilbert-space quantum mechanical formalism, avoiding thus any direct recourse to the ramifications of Kochen-Specker's argument or Bell's inequality. Depending on the mode of assignment of states to physical systems (unit state vectors versus non-idempotent density operators) we distinguish between strong/relational and weak/deconstructional forms of quantum nonseparability. The origin of the latter is traced down and discussed at length, whereas its relation to the all important concept of potentiality in forming a coherent picture of the puzzling entangled interconnections among spatially separated systems is also considered. Finally, certain philosophical consequences of quantum nonseparability concerning the nature of quantum objects, the question of realism in quantum mechanics, and possible limitations in revealing the actual character of physical reality in its entirety are explored.
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"abstract": "Standard quantum mechanics unquestionably violates the separability principle\nthat classical physics (be it point-like analytic, statistical, or\nfield-theoretic) accustomed us to consider as valid. In this paper, quantum\nnonseparability is viewed as a consequence of the Hilbert-space quantum\nmechanical formalism, avoiding thus any direct recourse to the ramifications of\nKochen-Specker\u0027s argument or Bell\u0027s inequality. Depending on the mode of\nassignment of states to physical systems (unit state vectors versus\nnon-idempotent density operators) we distinguish between strong/relational and\nweak/deconstructional forms of quantum nonseparability. The origin of the\nlatter is traced down and discussed at length, whereas its relation to the all\nimportant concept of potentiality in forming a coherent picture of the puzzling\nentangled interconnections among spatially separated systems is also\nconsidered. Finally, certain philosophical consequences of quantum\nnonseparability concerning the nature of quantum objects, the question of\nrealism in quantum mechanics, and possible limitations in revealing the actual\ncharacter of physical reality in its entirety are explored.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/0502099",
"authors": [
"Vassilios Karakostas"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph"
],
"journal_ref": "Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 2004,35, pp. 283-312",
"title": "Forms of Quantum Nonseparability and Related Philosophical Consequences",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0502099"
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