Limitations to Genuine Measurements in Ontological Models of Quantum Mechanics

Ontological Models in Quantum Mechanics: What do they tell us?

The consequences of the theorems about ontological models are studied. Maximally ψ-epistemic is shown to be equivalent to the conjunction of two other conditions, each of which can be realized in Hilbert spaces of arbitrary dimension, but which cannot occur together for d > 2. I argue that current theorems do not invalidate an epistemic interpretation of quantum states. A new condition, called ...

Ontological Models for Quantum Mechanics and the Kochen-Specker theorem

Certain concrete “ontological models” for quantum mechanics (models in which measurement outcomes are deterministic and quantum states are equivalent to classical probability distributions over some space of ‘hidden variables’) are examined. The models are generalizations of Kochen and Specker’s such model for a single 2-dimensional system in particular a model for a three dimensional quantum s...

Quantum Mechanics Without Measurements

Many of the conceptual problems students have in understanding quantum mechanics arise from the way probabilities are introduced in standard (textbook) quantum theory through the use of measurements. Introducing consistent microscopic probabilities in quantum theory requires setting up appropriate sample spaces taking proper account of quantum incompatibility. When this is done the Schrödinger ...

Classical models of quantum mechanics

Classical models of quantum mechanics