Causal non-locality can arise from constrained replication

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how causal non-locality can emerge from strictly local interactions using elementary components, challenging the traditional view of local theories in physics.

Contribution

It introduces a construction showing how non-local causal effects can originate from local systems through specific mechanisms like self-replication and noise.

Findings

Non-local causal effects can arise from local interactions.

A new theory explains the emergence of non-locality from local components.

The approach challenges the assumption that non-locality requires non-local interactions.

Abstract

The fundamental theories of physics are local theories, depending on local interactions of local variables. It is not clear if and how strictly local theories can produce non-local variables that have causal effectiveness. Yet, non-local effectiveness appears to exist, such as in the form of memory (non-locality through time) and causally effective spatial structures (non-locality through space). Here it is shown, by construction, how such non-locality can be produced from elementary components: non-isolated systems, multiplicative noise, self-replication, and elimination. A theory is derived that explains how causal non-locality can arise from strictly local interactions.