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A SQUID No-Go theorem without macrorealism: What SQUID's really tell us about nature

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Abstract

Without invoking macrorealism, we derive a contradiction between the quantum mechanical predictions forsquid's and two intuitive conditions. First, we assume that asquid can be measured without significantly disturbing its subsequent macroscopic behavior. Second, we assume a trivial realism condition much weaker than Leggett's macrorealism. Quantum mechanics itself obeys our realism assumption. This proof suggests that althoughsquid experiments cannot rule out macrorealism, they can rule out most theories that allow noninvasive measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Subfaculty of Philosophy, Oxford University, 10 Merton Street, OX1 4JJ, Oxford, England

    Sara Foster

  2. Department of Physics, LeConte Hall, University of California at Berkeley, 94720, Berkeley, California

    Andrew Elby

Authors
  1. Sara Foster
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  2. Andrew Elby
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Foster, S., Elby, A. A SQUID No-Go theorem without macrorealism: What SQUID's really tell us about nature. Found Phys 21, 773–785 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733344

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733344

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