Determinism, independence and objectivity are incompatible

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that classical assumptions of determinism, independence, and wave-particle objectivity cannot all be simultaneously true, showing fundamental incompatibilities in classical interpretations of quantum phenomena.

Contribution

It analyzes a delayed-choice experiment to prove that these classical assumptions are mutually incompatible, extending beyond quantum mechanics.

Findings

Determinism, independence, and wave-particle objectivity cannot coexist.

Classical assumptions are incompatible with quantum experimental results.

The study applies to any theory, not just quantum mechanics.

Abstract

Hidden-variable models aim to reproduce the results of quantum theory and to satisfy our classical intuition. Their refutation is usually based on deriving predictions that are different from those of quantum mechanics. Here instead we study the mutual compatibility of apparently reasonable classical assumptions. We analyze a version of the delayed-choice experiment which ostensibly combines determinism, independence of hidden variables on the conducted experiments, and wave-particle objectivity (the assertion that quantum systems are, at any moment, either particles or waves, but not both). These three ideas are incompatible with any theory, not only with quantum mechanics.