The Pilot-Wave Perspective on Spin

Authors

Travis Norsen, Smith CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Publication Title

American Journal of Physics

Abstract

The alternative pilot-wave theory of quantum phenomena—associated especially with Louis de Broglie, David Bohm, and John Bell—reproduces the statistical predictions of ordinary quantum mechanics but without recourse to special ad hoc axioms pertaining to measurement. That (and how) it does so is relatively straightforward to understand in the case of position measurements and, more generally, measurements, whose outcome is ultimately registered by the position of a pointer. Despite a widespread belief to the contrary among physicists, the theory can also account successfully for phenomena involving spin. The main goal of this paper is to explain how the pilot- wave theory’s account of spin works. Along the way, we provide illuminating comparisons between the orthodox and pilot-wave accounts of spin and address some puzzles about how the pilot-wave theory relates to the important theorems of Kochen and Specker and Bell.

Volume

82

Issue

4

First Page

337

Last Page

348

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1119/1.4848217

ISSN

1943-2909

Rights

© 2014 American Association of Physics Teachers.

Comments

Archived as published.

Recommended Citation

Norsen, Travis, "The Pilot-Wave Perspective on Spin" (2014). Physics: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/phy_facpubs/19