Some Personal Reflections on Quantum Non-locality and the Contributions of John Bell

TL;DR

This paper reflects on the historical development of quantum non-locality, emphasizing John Bell's contributions, early experiments, and recent investigations into a more fundamental theory of quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It provides a personal perspective on Bell's work, reviews early experiments related to quantum non-locality, and reports new investigations into foundational quantum theory.

Findings

Bell's inequalities highlight quantum non-locality

Early experiments explored spontaneous collapse theories

Recent work aims at a more fundamental quantum theory

Abstract

I present the background of the Bohm approach that led John Bell to a study of quantum non-locality from which his famous inequalities emerged. I recall the early experiments done at Birkbeck with an aim to explore the possibility of `spontaneous collapse', a way suggested by Schr\"{o}dinger to avoid the conclusion that quantum mechanics was grossly non-local. I also review some of the work that John did which directly impinged on my own investigations into the foundations of quantum mechanics and report some new investigations towards a more fundamental theory.