nLab quantum contextuality

Contents

Context

Quantum systems

quantum logic


quantum physics


quantum probability theoryobservables and states


quantum information


quantum computation

qbit

quantum algorithms:


quantum sensing


quantum communication

Contents

Idea

In quantum physics and in particular in the context of hidden variable theories (cf. interpretation of quantum mechanics) the term (quantum) contextuality refers to the (assumed) dependence of the value of quantum observables not just on (hypothetical) hidden variables but also on a specified “context” of other compatible (commuting) observables.

The notion originates in the discussion of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem which rules out the assumption that quantum observables all at once jointly dependent (only) on “hidden variables”. However, for any chosen commutative subalgebra of observables the assumption is valid (cf. Bohr topos), whence one may consider the idea that observables are defined by hidden variables and the specification of such “contexts”, hence that quantum observables are “contextual”.

References

Textbook accoutn:

See also:

Sheaf-theoretic aspects:

Cohomological aspects:

and via (singular cohomology of) simplicial sets and the Giry monad:

exposition:

Probabilistic aspects:

  • Ehtibar Dzhafarov, Janne Kujala, Probabilistic Foundations of Contextuality [arXiv:1604.08412]

Last revised on April 27, 2024 at 07:43:48. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.