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Algorithmic information theory and the hidden variable questionThe admissibility of certain nonlocal hidden-variable theories are explained via information theory. Consider a pair of Stern-Gerlach devices with fixed nonparallel orientations that periodically perform spin measurements on identically prepared pairs of electrons in the singlet spin state. Suppose the outcomes are recorded as binary strings l and r (with l sub n and r sub n denoting their n-length prefixes). The hidden-variable theories considered here require that there exists a recursive function which may be used to transform l sub n into r sub n for any n. This note demonstrates that such a theory cannot reproduce all the statistical predictions of quantum mechanics. Specifically, consider an ensemble of outcome pairs (l,r). From the associated probability measure, the Shannon entropies H sub n and H bar sub n for strings l sub n and pairs (l sub n, r sub n) may be formed. It is shown that such a theory requires that the absolute value of H bar sub n - H sub n be bounded - contrasting the quantum mechanical prediction that it grow with n.
Document ID
19920012810
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Fuchs, Christopher
(North Carolina Univ. Chapel Hill, NC, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Goddard Space Flight Center, Workshop on Squeezed States and Uncertainty Relations
Subject Category
Optics
Accession Number
92N22053
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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