Impossible Counterfactuals, Discrete Hilbert Space and Bell’s Theorem

Journal article

Negating the Measurement Independence assumption (MI) is often referred to as the ‘third way’ to account for the experimental violation of Bell’s inequality. However, this route is generally viewed as ludicrously contrived, implying some implausible conspiracy where experimenters are denied the freedom to choose measurement settings as they like. Here, a locally realistic model of quantum physics is developed (Rational Mechanics - RaQM - based on a gravitational discretisation of Hilbert Space) which violates MI without denying free will. Crucially, RaQM distinguishes experimenters’ ability to freely choose measurement settings to some nominal accuracy, from an inability to choose exact settings which were never under their control anyway. In RaQM, Hilbert states are necessarily undefined in bases where squared amplitudes and/or complex phases are irrational numbers. Such ‘irrational’ bases correspond to conceivable but necessarily impossible counterfactual measurements and are shown to play a ubiquitous role in the analysis of both single- and entangled-particle quantum physics. It is concluded that violation of Bell inequalities can be understood with none of the strange processes historically associated with it. Instead, using concepts from (non-classical) p-adic number theory, we relate RaQM to Bohm and Hiley’s concept of a holistic Machian-like Undivided Universe. If this interpretation of Bell’s Theorem is correct, building more and more energetic particle accelerators to probe smaller and smaller scales, in the search for a theory which synthesises quantum and gravitational physics and hence a Theory of Everything, may be a fruitless exercise.

Authors: Palmer, T

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Journal: Journal of Physics: Conference Series
• Volume: 3189
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 012006
• Article number: 012006
• Publication date: 2026-03-01
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/3189/1/012006
• EISSN: 1742-6596
• ISSN: 1742-6588
• Language: English
• Keywords: Hilbert space; Mathematical formulation of quantum mechanics; Interpretation (philosophy); Irrational number; Independence (probability theory); Counterfactual thinking; Arrow of time; Argument (complex analysis); Kochen–Specker theorem; POVM