How do we know the idea that particles don’t exist in one definitive spot until we measure them, isn’t just our lack of knowledge due to not measuring them yet?

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How do we know the idea that particles don’t exist in one definitive spot until we measure them, isn’t just our lack of knowledge due to not measuring them yet?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

There actually isn’t any information we don’t have access to yet. Bell’s Theorem says that there are no hidden local variables. Local here means that there are no influences that determine the “true” location of the particle within the distance light can travel in the amount of time considered. So for instance, if you were to suggest that X event which happened T time units before the measurement contributed to the measured location, X would need to be farther than cT length units away from the particle at the instant of the measurement. Bell’s Theorem does not say these events that can influence measurements beyond light travel exist or don’t exist, only that events that are at or closer than light distance definitely don’t exist. Quantum entanglement is probably an example of a beyond-light-travel event, but as far as I know we can’t explain it yet, or at least can’t ELI5 it yet!

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