Relational Quantum Entanglement Beyond Non-Separable and Contextual Relativism

TL;DR

This paper critiques traditional relativist views of quantum entanglement and introduces an objective-relational definition that avoids relativism, supporting a more realist interpretation of quantum correlations.

Contribution

It proposes a new objective-invariant relational definition of entanglement that overcomes non-separable and contextual relativism, enabling a realist perspective.

Findings

Theorems demonstrating the invariance of the new entanglement definition.

The new definition references all observables and factorizations as part of the same state.

It enables a realist interpretation of quantum correlations.

Abstract

In this paper we address the relativist-perspectival nature of the orthodox definition of quantum entanglement in terms of preferred factorizations. We also consider this aspect aspect within the generalized definition of entanglement proposed by Barnum et al. [6, 7] in terms of preferred observables. More specifically, we will discuss the non-separable relativism implied by the orthodox definition of entanglement, the contextual relativism implied by its generalization as well as some other serious problems presently discussed within the specialized literature. In the second part of this work, we address a recently proposed objective-invariant definition of entanglement understood as the actual and potential coding of effective and intensive relations [32]. Through the derivation of two theorems we will show explicitly how this new objective definition of entanglement is able to escape both non-separable relativism and contextual relativism. According to these theorems, within this proposed relational definition, all possible subsets of observables as well as all possible factorizations can be globally considered as making reference to the same (potential) state of affairs. The conclusion is that, unlike with the orthodox definitions, this new objective-relational notion of entanglement is able to bypass relativism right from the start opening the door to a realist understanding of quantum correlations.