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Is Algebraic Lorentz-Covariant Quantum Field Theory Stochastic Einstein Local?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

F. A. Muller  and
Jeremy Butterfield
F. A. Muller*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Utrecht University
Jeremy Butterfield
Affiliation:
Faculty of Philosophy, Cambridge University
*
‡Send reprint requests to F. A. Muller; Faculty of Physics and Astronomy; Department of Foundations of Science; Utrecht University; PO Box 80,000; 3508 TA Utrecht; The Netherlands.
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Abstract

The general context of this paper is the locality problem in quantum theory. In a recent issue of this journal, Rédei (1991) offered a proof of the proposition that algebraic Lorentz-covariant quantum field theory is past stochastic Einstein local. We show that Rédei's proof is either spurious or circular, and that it contains two deductive fallacies. Furthermore, we prove that the mentioned theory meets the stronger condition of stochastic Haag locality.

Type
Discussion
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 61 , Issue 3 , September 1994 , pp. 457 - 474
Copyright
Copyright © Philosophy of Science Association 1994

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Footnotes

†

F. A. Muller has benefited from conversations with Professor Jan Hilgevoord on Haag's book and was inspired to write part (d) of sec. 4 after discussions with Dennis Dieks. Jeremy Butterfield thanks the Mrs. L. D. Rope Third Charitable Settlement for supporting sabbatical leave. Both authors thank Miklós Rédei for correspondence and discussions.

References

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