Seminars & Colloquia Calendar

Download as iCal file

Mathematical Physics Seminar

Locality and the Uncertainty Principle: A Bell-type argument in the original EPR variables

Jean Bricmont: University of Louvain, Belgium

Location:  Hill 705
Date & time: Thursday, 09 March 2017 at 12:00PM - 12:11PM

In their 1935 paper, Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen considered two particles moving in opposite direction and with total momentum equal to zero.Then they argued that, if there is no action at a distance, measuring the position or the velocity of on elf the particle would allow us to knowthe corresponding value for the other particle. Yet ordinary quantum mechanics does not ascribe a precise position or velocity to either particle. Therefore, concluded Einstein Podolsky and Rosen, the quantum description of reality is incomplete.

In his 1951 book on quantum theory, Bohm reformulated that argument in terms of spin variables and it is using those variables (or the polarizations of photons) thatBell proved that some sort of actions at a distance actually do exist.

We will show that, thanks to a little known no hidden variable theorem, one can reach the same conclusion using the original position and momentum variables of Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen.

Special Note to All Travelers

Directions: map and driving directions. If you need information on public transportation, you may want to check the New Jersey Transit page.

Unfortunately, cancellations do occur from time to time. Feel free to call our department: 848-445-6969 before embarking on your journey. Thank you.