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

Abstract

The consequences of the theorems about ontological models are studied. "Maximally $\psi$-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 "functionally $\psi$-epistemic", is introduced, which, were it to be excluded, would signal the exclusion of epistemic interpretations.

References in corpus (5)

• No extension of quantum theory can have improved predictive power
• Strong Kochen-Specker theorem and incomputability of quantum randomness
• $\psi$-epistemic models are exponentially bad at explaining the distinguishability of quantum states
• Ontological models and the interpretation of contextuality
• Onthological models predictively inequivalent to quantum theory

Cited by in corpus (6)

• A Stronger Theorem Against Macro-realism
• Linear superposition as a core theorem of quantum empiricism
• Reciprocal ontological models show indeterminism of the order of quantum theory
• Reality, Causality, and Quantum Theory
• Violating the assumption of Measurement Independence in Quantum Foundations
• $\psi$-Epistemic Models, Einsteinian Intuitions, and No-Gos. A Critical Study of Recent Developments on the Quantum State