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On the possibility of a phase-space reconstruction of quantum statistics: A refutation of the Bell-Wigner locality argument

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Abstract

J. S. Bell's argument that only “nonlocal” hidden variable theories can reproduce the quantum statistical correlations of the singlet spin state in the case of two separated spin-1/2 particles is examined in terms of Wigner's formulation. It is shown that a similar argument applies to a single spin-1/2 particle, and that the exclusion of hidden variables depends on an obviously untenable assumption concerning conditional probabilities. The problem of completeness is discussed briefly, and the grounds for rejecting a phase-space reconstruction of the quantum statistics are clarified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

    Jeffrey Bub

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  1. Jeffrey Bub
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Research supported by the National Science Foundation.

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Bub, J. On the possibility of a phase-space reconstruction of quantum statistics: A refutation of the Bell-Wigner locality argument. Found Phys 3, 29–44 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708598

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708598

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