In quantum mechanics, is the natural expansion of the wavefunction responsible for quantum nonlocality, entanglement, and probability?

Dan Piponi (THEORETICAL PHYSISIST)

Consider a photon’s wavefunction in the simplest case: a sphere expanding at the rate of c.


The expanding sphere augments the nonlocality of the photon & the probabilistic surface upon which it may be found. Two photons emitted from a common source will thus share a locality and thus be entangled.











The question asks: “In quantum mechanics, is the natural expansion of the wavefunction responsible for quantum nonlocality, entanglement, and probability?”

I have already provided answers to multiple similar questions recently asked by the OP, all of which answers touch on different aspects of the question asked here. But an answer has been requested from me so here goes.

Let’s try this differently this time. We can make this real simple. The answer is no, the natural expansion of the wave function cannot be responsible for quantum nonlocality, entanglement, and probability, if only because the wave function is an abstract mathematical idea, not a physical entity.

A mathematical equation - even a differential equation which is what the wave function is - cannot expand in real space or real time or real space-time. If quantum nonlocality and quantum entanglement actually exist they must be in some sense physical themselves or physical properties of a real (not simply a mathematical) space-time.

Probability presents a different problem because we have deceived ourselves into thinking we have a handle on it. But we don’t - not in context of quantum mechanics.

The wave function and the equivalent path integral formulation state that the electron occupies all possible positions simultaneously and the result of a measurement is a function of a probability distribution taking into account all these possible states. But that is just another mathematical formalism. It says nothing about what happens in reality to require all these many states nor what takes place in the choice of one measurement over another. The reality is glossed over by the term probability distribution. This is what another worldview has called maya (illusion)

ANAΔΗΜΟΣΙΕΥΣΗ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ QUORA 14/6/2017