Branching space-time, modal logic, and the counterfactual conditional

Muller, Thomas (2001) Branching space-time, modal logic, and the counterfactual conditional.

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Abstract

The paper gives a physicist's view on the framework of branching space-time (Belnap, Synthese 92 (1992), 385--434). Branching models are constructed from physical state assignments. The models are then employed to give a formal semantics for the modal operators ``possibly'' and ``necessarily'' and for the counterfactual conditional.
The resulting formal language can be used to analyze quantum correlation experiments.
As an application sketch, Stapp's premises
LOC1 and LOC2 from his purported proof of non-locality
(Am. J. Phys. 65 (1997), 300--304) are analyzed.

Keywords:branching time, branching space-time, formal language,
physical possibility, counterfactual conditional
Subjects:General Issues: Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences: Physics: Quantum Mechanics
ID Code:509
Deposited By:Muller, Thomas
Deposited On:10 December 2001

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