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The Quantum Completeness Problem

Held, Carsten (2011) The Quantum Completeness Problem. [Preprint]

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Abstract

The different versions of the Kochen-Specker Theorem show that quantum mechanics (QM) cannot be supplemented by hidden variables given two constraints. These results are generally interpreted as showing that QM is complete in the following way. A QM system S has only those values of observables for which the state yields probability 1. For all other probabilities S adopts a value during the measurement interaction. But this interpretation is fundamentally problematic. In fact it cannot yield a general and coherent interpretation of the trace formula. I present an argument to this effect, discuss a possible objection and sketch implications.

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Item Type: Preprint
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Held, Carstencarsten.held@uni-erfurt.de
Additional Information: This version of the paper was written in spring 2010. The material of sec.3 and Appendix C was presented at the DPG philosophy of physics workshop at the TU München 9-10 September 2011. Thanks to Helmut Fink Meinard Kuhlmann and Manfred Stöckler for discussion.
Keywords: Completeness of quantum mechanics; structure of quantum mechanics
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Carsten Held
Date Deposited: 14 Sep 2011 01:24
Last Modified: 14 Sep 2011 01:24
Item ID: 8787
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 13 September 2011
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8787

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