Reality, locality and all that: "experimental metaphysics" and the quantum foundations

TL;DR

This paper explores the revival of foundational questions in quantum theory through experimental metaphysics, formalizing concepts, proposing new ideas, and suggesting experimental tests in quantum-atom optical setups.

Contribution

It formalizes old and new concepts in quantum foundations, introduces novel ideas, and provides experimental proposals for testing these in quantum-atom optical experiments.

Findings

Formalization of foundational quantum concepts

Introduction of new theoretical ideas in quantum foundations

Proposals for experimental tests in quantum-atom optical setups

Abstract

In recent decades there has been a resurge of interest in the foundations of quantum theory, partly motivated by new experimental techniques, partly by the emerging field of quantum information science. Old questions, asked since the seminal article by Einstein, Podolsky and Rosen (EPR), are being revisited. The work of John Bell has changed the direction of investigation by recognising that those fundamental philosophical questions can have, after all, input from experiment. Abner Shimony has aptly termed this new field of enquiry "experimental metaphysics". The objective of this Thesis is to contribute to that body of research, by formalising old concepts, proposing new ones, and finding new results in well-studied areas. Without losing from sight that the appeal of experimental metaphysics comes from the adjective, every major result is followed by clear experimental proposals for quantum-atom optical setups.