38 research outputs found
Counterfactuality, Definiteness, and Bell's Theorem
We show counterfactual definiteness separates classical from quantum physics,
by analysing Bell's Theorem. By comparing what it prohibited by various
interpretations, we show most interpretations just require counterfactual
semi-definiteness (the definiteness of possible options available after a
measurement event), rather than full counterfactual indefiniteness. While less
definite than classical counterfactual definiteness, it allows us a far more
sophisticated tool to consider the physical interpretation of multi-valued
variables in a not yet done. Working from this, we further consider its
relation to how counterfactual possibilities interact.Comment: 5+1 pages, edited for clarity and concisenes
Comment on "Experimentally adjudicating between different causal accounts of Bell-inequality violations via statistical model selection"
In a recent paper (Phys. Rev. A 105, 042220 (2022)), Daley et al claim that
superdeterministic models are disfavoured against standard quantum mechanics,
because such models overfit the statistics of a Bell-type experiment which the
authors conducted. We argue here that their claim is based on a
misunderstanding of what superdeterministic models are.Comment: 4 pages, no figure
Comment on ``Scheme of the arrangement for attack on the protocol BB84"
In a recent paper (Scheme of the arrangement for attack on the protocol BB84,
Optik 127(18):7083-7087, Sept 2016), a protocol was proposed for using weak
measurement to attack BB84. This claimed the four basis states typically used
could be perfectly discriminated, and so an interceptor could obtain all
information carried. We show this attack fails when considered using standard
quantum mechanics, as expected - such ``single-shot" quantum state
discrimination is impossible, even using weak measurement.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication by Opti
Comment on "Why interference phenomena do not capture the essence of quantum theory" by Catani et al
It was recently argued by Catani et al that it is possible to reproduce the
phenomenology of the double-slit experiment with a deterministic, local, and
classical model (arXiv:2111.13727). The stated aim of their argument is to
falsify the claim made by Feynman (in his third book of Lectures on Physics)
that the double-slit experiment is "impossible, absolutely impossible, to
explain in any classical way" and that it "contains the only mystery" of
quantum mechanics. We here want to point out some problems with their argument,
and defend Feynman's position.Comment: 3 pages, no figures, comments welcom