Inconsistency of a realistic interpretation of quantum measurements: A simple example

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through a simple example that quantum measurements cannot be interpreted as revealing an objective, pre-existing reality of a property, highlighting a fundamental incompatibility between realism and quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It provides a clear, illustrative example showing the inconsistency of realistic interpretations with quantum measurement outcomes.

Findings

Sequential spin measurements show incompatibility with objective realism.

The example clarifies the theoretical conflict between realism and quantum mechanics.

Discusses the relation of the results with existing debates on quantum reality.

Abstract

We use a simple example to illustrate why it is not possible to consider that a measurement reveals an underlying objective reality of a property of a quantum system, that continues the same after the measurement is performed. This kind of incompatibility between realism and quantum mechanics is theoretically demonstrated with an example where sequential spin measurements are performed on a spin-2 quantum particle. We discuss the relation of this result with other works that investigate the concept of reality in quantum mechanics.