Conway–Kochen and the Finite Precision Loophole

Recently Cator and Landsman made a comparison between Bell’s Theorem and Conway and Kochen’s Strong Free Will Theorem. Their overall conclusion was that the latter is stronger in that it uses fewer assumptions, but also that it has two shortcomings. Firstly, no experimental test of the Conway–Kochen Theorem has been performed thus far, and, secondly, because the Conway–Kochen Theorem is strongly connected to the Kochen–Specker Theorem it may be susceptible to the finite precision loophole of Meyer, Kent and Clifton. In this paper I show that the finite precision loophole does not apply to the Conway–Kochen Theorem.     

A simplified basis for Bell–Kochen–Specker theorems

We show that a reduced form of the structural requirements for deterministic hidden variables used in Bell–Kochen–Specker theorems is already sufficient for the no-go results. Those requirements are captured by the following principle: an observable takes a spectral value x if and only if the spectral projector associated with x takes the value 1. We show that the “only if” part of this condition suffices. The proof identifies an important structural feature behind the no-go results; namely, if at least one projector is assigned the value 1 in any resolution of the identity, then at most one is.     

MGP Versus Kochen–Specker Condition in Hidden Variables Theories

Hidden variables theories} for quantum mechanics are usually assumed to satisfy the KS condition. The Bell–Kochen–Specker theorem then shows that these theories are necessarily contextual. But the KS condition can be criticized from an operational viewpoint, which suggests that a weaker condition (MGP) should be adopted in place of it. This leads one to introduce a class of hidden parameters theories in which contextuality can, in principle, be avoided, since the proofs of the Bell–Kochen–Specker theorem break down. A simple model recently provided by the author for an objective interpretation of quantum mechanics can be looked at as a noncontextual hidden parameters theory, which shows that such theories actually exist.     

Topos Perspective on the Kochen–Specker Theorem: IV. Interval Valuations

We extend the topos-theoretic treatment given in previous papers (Butterfield, J. and Isham, C. J. (1999). International Journal of Theoretical Physics 38, 827–859; Hamilton, J., Butterfield, J., and Isham, C. J. (2000). International Journal of Theoretical Physics 39, 1413–1436; Isham, C. J. and Butterfield, J. (1998). International Journal of Theoretical Physics 37, 2669–2733) of assigning values to quantities in quantum theory. In those papers, the main idea was to assign a sieve as a partial and contextual truth value to a proposition that the value of a quantity lies in a certain set . Here we relate such sieve-valued valuations to valuations that assign to quantities subsets, rather than single elements, of their spectra (we call these interval valuations). There are two main results. First, there is a natural correspondence between these two kinds of valuation, which uses the notion of a state's support for a quantity (Section 3). Second, if one starts with a more general notion of interval valuation, one sees that our interval valuations based on the notion of support (and correspondingly, our sieve-valued valuations) are a simple way to secure certain natural properties of valuations, such as monotonicity (Section 4).     

Quantum Locality,Rings a Bell?: Bell’s Inequality Meets Local Reality and True Determinism

By assuming a deterministic evolution of quantum systems and taking realism into account, we carefully build a hidden variable theory for Quantum Mechanics (QM) based on the notion of ontological states proposed by ’t Hooft (The cellular automaton interpretation of quantum mechanics, arXiv:1405.1548v3, 2015; Springer Open 185,  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41285-6, 2016). We view these ontological states as the ones embedded with realism and compare them to the (usual) quantum states that represent superpositions, viewing the latter as mere information of the system they describe. Such a deterministic model puts forward conditions for the applicability of Bell’s inequality: the usual inequality cannot be applied to the usual experiments. We build a Bell-like inequality that can be applied to the EPR scenario and show that this inequality is always satisfied by QM. In this way we show that QM can indeed have a local interpretation, and thus meet with the causal structure imposed by the Theory of Special Relativity in a satisfying way.     

Parity Proofs of the Kochen–Specker Theorem Based on the 120-Cell

It is shown how the 300 rays associated with the antipodal pairs of vertices of a 120-cell (a four-dimensional regular polytope) can be used to give numerous “parity proofs” of the Kochen–Specker theorem ruling out the existence of noncontextual hidden variables theories. The symmetries of the 120-cell are exploited to give a simple construction of its Kochen–Specker diagram, which is exhibited in the form of a “basis table” showing all the orthogonalities between its rays. The basis table consists of 675 bases (a basis being a set of four mutually orthogonal rays), but all the bases can be written down from the few listed in this paper using some simple rules. The basis table is shown to contain a wide variety of parity proofs, ranging from 19 bases (or contexts) at the low end to 41 bases at the high end. Some explicit examples of these proofs are given, and their implications are discussed.     

Kochen–Specker Theorem for von Neumann Algebras

The Kochen–Specker theorem has been discussed intensely ever since its original proof in 1967. It is one of the central no-go theorems of quantum theory, showing the non-existence of a certain kind of hidden states models. In this paper, we first offer a new, non-combinatorial proof for quantum systems with a type I_n factor as algebra of observables, including I_∞. Afterwards, we give a proof of the Kochen–Specker theorem for an arbitrary von Neumann algebra without summands of types I₁ and I₂, using a known result on two-valued measures on the projection lattice . Some connections with presheaf formulations as proposed by Isham and Butterfield are made.     

Constraints on Kaluza–Klein gravity from Gravity Probe B

Using measurements of geodetic precession from Gravity Probe B, we constrain possible departures from Einstein’s General Relativity for a spinning test body in Kaluza–Klein gravity with one additional space dimension. We consider the two known static and spherically symmetric solutions of the 5D field equations (the soliton and canonical metrics) and obtain new limits on the free parameters associated with each. The theory is consistent with observation but must be “close to 4D” in both cases.     

New Constraints on the Axion–Photon Coupling Constant for Solar Axions

Resonance excitation of the ⁸³Kr first nuclear level (E = 9.4 keV) by solar axions formed via the Primakoff mechanism is sought. The γ- and X-ray photons and the conversion and Auger electrons arising from the excited-level relaxation are detected with a gas proportional counter of a low-background detector in the underground Baksan Neutrino Observatory. The following experimental constraint is obtained for the product of the axion–photon coupling constant and the axion mass:|g_Aγ × m_A| ≤ 6.3 × 10 ^-17 In the framework of the hadronic-axion model, this corresponds to a new axion-mass constraint of m_A ≤ 12.7 eV at 95% C.L.     

New Constraints on the Axion–Electron Coupling Constant for Solar Axions

JETP Letters - The formation of a single-cycle light bullet during the propagation of a mid-infrared femtosecond laser pulse with an arbitrary initial ellipticity of the light field polarization in...     

Constraints on an asymptotic safety scenario for the Wess–Zumino model

Using the nonrenormalization theorem and Pohlmeyer's theorem, it is proven that there cannot be an asymptotic safety scenario for the Wess–Zumino model unless there exists a non-trivial fixed point with (i) a negative anomalous dimension (ii) a relevant direction belonging to the Kähler potential.     

Observation Constraints on the Simplified GCG Model

A simplified version of generalized Chaplygin gas （GCG） as a dark energy model is studied. By using the latest 162 ESSENCE type Ia supernovae （She Ia） data, 30 high redshift She Ia data, the baryonic acoustic oscillation peak from SDSS and the CMB data from WMAP3, a strong constraint on this simplified GCG model is obtained. At the 95.4% confidence level we obtain 0.21 ≤ Ωm ≤ 0.31 and 0.994 〈 α 〈 1.0 with the best fit Ωm = 0.25 and a = 1. This best fit scenario corresponds to an accelerating universe with qo ≈-0.65 and z ≈ 0.81 （a redshiR of cosmic phase transition from deceleration to acceleration）.     

用双光子偏振纠缠态验证“Bell—Kochen—Specker”理论的理论实验

量子纠缠是近年来基础物理中的热点话题之一。“Bell-Kochen-Specker”理论表明“背景无关”的隐变量理论与量子力学不相容,从而揭示了量子系统的整体相关性。本文在两篇文献的基础上,对电子偶素湮灭产生的双光子偏振纠缠态作了分析,说明在这种情况下“背景无关”隐变量理论与量子力学的不相容性。     

Gibbs–Jaynes Entropy Versus Relative Entropy

The maximum entropy formalism developed by Jaynes determines the relevant ensemble in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics by maximising the entropy functional subject to the constraints imposed by the available information. We present an alternative derivation of the relevant ensemble based on the Kullback–Leibler divergence from equilibrium. If the equilibrium ensemble is already known, then calculation of the relevant ensemble is considerably simplified. The constraints must be chosen with care in order to avoid contradictions between the two alternative derivations. The relative entropy functional measures how much a distribution departs from equilibrium. Therefore, it provides a distinct approach to the calculation of statistical ensembles that might be applicable to situations in which the formalism presented by Jaynes performs poorly (such as non-ergodic dynamical systems).     

Comparison of Supernovae Datasets Constraints on Dark Energy

Cosmological measurements suggest that our universe contains a dark energy component. In order to study the dark energy evolution, we constrain a parameterized dark energy equation of state ω（z） = ω0 ＋ ω1 1＋z/z using the recent observational datasets： 157 Gold type Ia supernovae and the newly released 182 Gold type Ia supernovae by the maximum likelihood method. It is found that the best fit ω（z） crosses -1 in the past and the present best fit value of ω（0） 〈 -1 obtained from 157 Gold-type Ia supernovae. The crossing of-1 is not realized and ω0 = -1 is not ruled out in 1σ confidence level for the 182 Gold-type Ia supernovae. It is also found that the range of parameter ω0 is wide even in 1σ confidence level and the best fit ω（z） is sensitive to the prior of Ωm.     

Topological Constraints on Scroll and Spiral Waves in Excitable Media

A conservation equation for topological charges of phase singularities （scroll and spiral waves） in excitable media is given. It provides some topological properties of scroll （spiral） waves： for example, the topological charge of the generated or annihilated spiral pair must be opposite. Additionally, we obtain another equation on scroll waves, which shows that singular filaments of scroll waves occur on a set of one-dimensional curves which may be either closed loops or infinite lines.     

Constraints on unparticle interactions from particle and antiparticle oscillations

Unparticles have dramatic effects on particle and antiparticle oscillations in meson–antimeson and muonium–antimuonium systems. Unlike the usual tree-level contributions to meson oscillations from heavy-particle exchange, which results in a small Γ ₁₂, the unparticle may have sizeable contributions to both M ₁₂ and Γ ₁₂ due to the fractional dimension of the unparticle. If the unparticle effect dominates the contributions (which may happen in D ⁰– mixing) to the meson mixing parameters x and y, we find that . The mass difference Δm in meson mixing can provide interesting constraints on the unparticle interactions. The unparticle interaction can significantly enhance the CP asymmetry in meson mixing, which can be tested in more accurate experiments in the future. Interesting constraints on unparticle and particle interactions can also be obtained using muonion and antimuonion oscillation data.