Nonlocal character of quantum theory?

Abstract

In a recent article under the above title (but without the question mark) Henry Stapp presented arguments which lead him to conclude that under suitable conditions ``the truth of a statement that refers only to phenomena confined to an earlier time'' must ``depend on which measurement an experimenter freely chooses to perform at a later time.'' I point out that the reasoning leading to this conclusion relies on an essential ambiguity regarding the meaning of the expression ``statement that refers only to phenomena confined to an earlier time'' when such a statement contains counterfactual conditionals. As a result the argumentation does not justify the conclusion that there can be frames of reference in which future choices can affect present facts. But it does provide an instructive and interestingly different opportunity to illustrate a central point of Bohr's reply to Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen.

11 pages, no figures

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• Quantum discord is Bohr's notion of non-mechanical disturbance introduced in his answer to EPR
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• An Analysis of Stapp's "A Bell-type theorem without hidden variables"
• Mermin's Suggestion and the Nature of Bohr's Action-at-a-Distance Influence
• On the Physical Explanation for Quantum Computational Speedup
• On the Necessity of Entanglement for the Explanation of Quantum Speedup
• On the Consequences of Retaining the General Validity of Locality in Physical Theory
• Counterfactuals in Quantum Mechanics
• On the Work of Henry P. Stapp
• Counterfactual quantum measurements