Tim Maudlin: The PBR Theorem, Quantum State Realism, and Statistical Independence

Oxford Philosophy of Physics Seminar, Trinity Term 2021
17 June: Tim Maudlin (NYU)
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Title: The PBR Theorem, Quantum State Realism, and Statistical Independence
Abstract: The PBR Theorem has been characterized as the most important result in foundations of quantum theory since Bell’s Theorem, and indeed the two theorems share several characteristics in common. Both are founded on straightforward empirical postulates that can be checked in the lab. Both have been ascribed significance in quite various ways by different people. And both rely, apart from the empirical postulate, on a statistical independence assumption that has been questioned.
I will give an elementary presentation of the simplest instance of the theorem, and then discuss what it proves and the standing of the statistical independence assumption.
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