Abstract

Based on the analysis of the background and the presuppositions of the PBR theorem, this article investigates the influence of this theorem upon the landscape of interpretations of quantum mechanics. It points out that most of the interpretations except the stochastic interpretation are not affected by this theorem. According to this theorem, any viable stochastic theory of quantum mechanics should be a stochastic hidden variable theory, as is shown by Montina's results. Notwithstanding this, the ψ-epistemic approach is still possible if we follow Einstein's idea not to accept the ontological model of quantum mechanics.

Key Words

Quantum states; The ontological model; The ψ-ontic/ψ-epistemic classification; The PBR theorem; Realism; Interpretations of quantum mechanics; The stochastic process theory; Einstein

Citation: Hao, L., Xia, S. 'The PBR Theorem and the Ontological Problem of Quantum States' [J]. Journal of Dialectics of Nature, 2018, 40(3): 46-52.

Download: The PBR Theorem and the Ontological Problem of Quantum States