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Nonlocality Without Nonlocality

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Abstract

Bell’s theorem is purported to demonstrate the impossibility of a local “hidden variable” theory underpinning quantum mechanics. It relies on the well-known assumption of ‘locality’, and also on a little-examined assumption called ‘statistical independence’ (SI). Violations of this assumption have variously been thought to suggest “backward causation”, a “conspiracy” on the part of nature, or the denial of “free will”. It will be shown here that these are spurious worries, and that denial of SI simply implies nonlocal correlation between spacelike degrees of freedom. Lorentz-invariant theories in which SI does not hold are easily constructed: two are exhibited here. It is conjectured, on this basis, that quantum-mechanical phenomena may be modeled by a local theory after all.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, 31 Caroline St N, Waterloo, ON, N2L 2Y5, Canada

    Steven Weinstein

  2. Dept. of Philosophy, U. Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Steven Weinstein

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  1. Steven Weinstein
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Correspondence to Steven Weinstein.

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This paper is dedicated to the memory of John A. Wheeler.

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Weinstein, S. Nonlocality Without Nonlocality. Found Phys 39, 921–936 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-009-9305-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-009-9305-x

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