Hidden-variable theory

In physics, a hidden-variable theory is a deterministic model which seeks to explain the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics by introducing additional, possibly inaccessible, variables.

The mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics assumes that the state of a system prior to measurement is indeterminate; quantitative bounds on this indeterminacy are expressed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Most hidden-variable theories are attempts to avoid this indeterminacy, but possibly at the expense of requiring that nonlocal interactions be allowed. One notable hidden-variable theory is the de Broglie–Bohm theory.

In their 1935 EPR paper, Albert Einstein, Boris Podolsky, and Nathan Rosen argued that quantum entanglement might imply that quantum mechanics is an incomplete description of reality.[1][2] John Stewart Bell in 1964, in his eponymous theorem proved that correlations between particles under any local hidden variable theory must obey certain constraints. Subsequently, Bell test experiments have demonstrated broad violation of these constraints, ruling out such theories.[3] Bell's theorem, however, does not rule out the possibility of nonlocal theories or superdeterminism; these therefore cannot be falsified by Bell tests.

  1. ^ Einstein, A.; Podolsky, B.; Rosen, N. (1935). "Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?". Physical Review. 47 (10): 777–780. Bibcode:1935PhRv...47..777E. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.47.777.
  2. ^ Genovese, M. (2005). "Research on hidden variable theories: A review of recent progresses". Physics Reports. 413 (6): 319–396. arXiv:quant-ph/0701071v1. Bibcode:2005PhR...413..319G. doi:10.1016/j.physrep.2005.03.003. S2CID 14833712. The debate whether Quantum Mechanics is a complete theory and probabilities have a non-epistemic character (i.e. nature is intrinsically probabilistic) or whether it is a statistical approximation of a deterministic theory and probabilities are due to our ignorance of some parameters (i.e. they are epistemic) dates to the beginning of the theory itself
  3. ^ Markoff, Jack (21 October 2015). "Sorry, Einstein. Quantum Study Suggests 'Spooky Action' Is Real". New York Times. Retrieved 21 October 2015.

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