Quantum measurement breaks Lorentz symmetry

Abstract

Traditionally causes come before effects, but according to modern physics things aren't that simple. Special relativity shows that `before' and `after' are relative, and quantum measurement is even more subtle. Since the nonlocality of Bell's theorem, it has been known that quantum measurement has an uneasy relation with special relativity, described by Shimony as `peaceful coexistence'. Hardy's theorem says that quantum measurement requires a preferred Lorentz frame. The original proofs of the theorem depended on there being no backward causality, even at the quantum level. In quant-ph/9803044 this condition was removed. It was only required that systems with classical inputs and outputs had no causal loops. Here the conditions are weakened further: there should be no forbidden causal loops as defined in the text. The theory depends on a transfer function analysis, which is introduced in detail before application to specific systems.

48 pages, 18 figures, mostly at the end. LaTeX

References in corpus (3)

• Long-distance Bell-type tests using energy-time entangled photons
• Quantum transfer functions, weak nonlocality and relativity
• Cosmic quantum measurement

Cited by in corpus (4)

• Michelson-Morley Experiments Revisited and the Cosmic Background Radiation Preferred Frame
• Re-Analysis of Michelson-Morley Experiments Reveals Agreement with COBE Cosmic Background Radiation Preferred Frame so Impacting on Interpretation of General Relativity
• Process Physics: From Quantum Foam to General Relativity
• Remote which-way-choice scheme: proposed foundations experiments