Bypassing the Kochen-Specker theorem: an explicit non-contextual statistical model for the qutrit

TL;DR

This paper presents a non-contextual hidden variable model for the qutrit that reproduces quantum mechanics predictions, challenging the assumptions underlying the Kochen-Specker theorem by removing the need for an absolute reference frame.

Contribution

It introduces an explicit non-contextual statistical model for the qutrit that bypasses the Kochen-Specker theorem by questioning the necessity of an absolute reference frame.

Findings

Model fully reproduces quantum predictions

Challenges assumptions of Kochen-Specker theorem

Highlights the non-necessity of an absolute frame

Abstract

We describe an explicitly non-contextual statistical model of hidden variables for the qutrit, which fully reproduces the predictions of quantum mechanics and, thus, bypasses the constraints imposed by the Kochen-Specker theorem and its subsequent reformulations. We notice that these renowned theorems crucially rely on the implicitly assumed existence of an absolute frame of reference with respect to which physically indistinguishable tests related by spurious gauge transformations can supposedly be assigned well-defined distinct identities. We observe that the existence of such an absolute frame of reference is not required by fundamental physical principles and, hence, assuming it is an unnecessarily restrictive demand.