Questioning the reasonableness of the quantum nonlocality debate
Justo Pastor Lambare
TL;DR
The paper scrutinizes the logical foundations of the quantum nonlocality debate, arguing that imprecise definitions of nonlocality and realism, alongside counterfactual reasoning, breed misleading conclusions. It dissects Bell's deterministic and stochastic formulations, clarifying that the Bell-CHSH bound $S=⟨A_1B_1⟩+⟨A_1B_2⟩+⟨A_2B_1⟩-⟨A_2B_2⟩$ yields $|S|≤2$ for local-hidden-variable theories and $|S|≤2√2$ for QM, and that these results do not by themselves prove quantum nonlocality. The authors contrast Bell's notion of explanatory nonlocality with operational no-signaling locality and expose misinterpretations surrounding Counterfactual Definiteness (CFD) and incompatible experiments as decoupled from empirical tests. They also distinguish two notions of nonlocality and outline rational alternatives to orthodox dogmas, with implications for interpreting experimental violations and guiding foundational discussions. Overall, the work advocates precise definitions and careful logic to improve the interpretive clarity of quantum locality debates and their experimental outcomes.
Abstract
We critically discuss the apparent lack of logical rigor pervading the debate on quantum nonlocality. Strong convictions often prevail over rational assessment, leading to the acceptance of loose ideas that become entrenched dogmas. The lack of sound rationales and adherence to the rules of logical inference lead to widely adopted antinomies that receive little conceptual scrutiny.