Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments Say
“Non-locality is most naturally incorporated into a theory in which there is a special frame of reference. One possible candidate for this special frame of reference is the one in which the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is isotropic. However, other than the fact that a realistic interpretation o...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/9/481 |
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| author | Maurizio Consoli Alessandro Pluchino Paola Zizzi |
| author_facet | Maurizio Consoli Alessandro Pluchino Paola Zizzi |
| author_sort | Maurizio Consoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | “Non-locality is most naturally incorporated into a theory in which there is a special frame of reference. One possible candidate for this special frame of reference is the one in which the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is isotropic. However, other than the fact that a realistic interpretation of quantum mechanics requires a preferred frame and the CMB provides us with one, there is no readily apparent reason why the two should be linked” (L. Hardy). Starting from this remark, we first argue that, given the present view of the vacuum, the basic tenets of Quantum Field Theory cannot guarantee that Einstein Special Relativity, with no preferred frame, is the <i>physically realized</i> version of relativity. Then, to try to understand the nature of the hypothetical preferred <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>Σ</mo><mo>−</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>frame, we consider the so-called ether drift experiments, those precise optical measurements that try to detect, in the laboratory, a small angular dependence of the two-way velocity of light and then to correlate this angular dependence with the direct CMB observations with satellites in space. By considering all experiments performed so far, from Michelson–Morley to the present experiments with optical resonators, and analyzing the small observed residuals in a modern theoretical framework, the long-sought <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>Σ</mo><mo>−</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>frame tight to the CMB naturally emerges. Finally, if quantum non-locality reflects some effect propagating at vastly superluminal speed <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>v</mi><mrow><mi>Q</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow></msub><mo>→</mo><mo>∞</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, its ultimate origin could be hidden somewhere in the infinite speed <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>c</mi><mi>s</mi></msub><mo>→</mo><mo>∞</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> of vacuum density fluctuations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ae41cf355ab4465381f38e08e64d0027 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:18:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-ae41cf355ab4465381f38e08e64d00272023-11-23T19:19:14ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972022-09-018948110.3390/universe8090481Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments SayMaurizio Consoli0Alessandro Pluchino1Paola Zizzi2Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy“Non-locality is most naturally incorporated into a theory in which there is a special frame of reference. One possible candidate for this special frame of reference is the one in which the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is isotropic. However, other than the fact that a realistic interpretation of quantum mechanics requires a preferred frame and the CMB provides us with one, there is no readily apparent reason why the two should be linked” (L. Hardy). Starting from this remark, we first argue that, given the present view of the vacuum, the basic tenets of Quantum Field Theory cannot guarantee that Einstein Special Relativity, with no preferred frame, is the <i>physically realized</i> version of relativity. Then, to try to understand the nature of the hypothetical preferred <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>Σ</mo><mo>−</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>frame, we consider the so-called ether drift experiments, those precise optical measurements that try to detect, in the laboratory, a small angular dependence of the two-way velocity of light and then to correlate this angular dependence with the direct CMB observations with satellites in space. By considering all experiments performed so far, from Michelson–Morley to the present experiments with optical resonators, and analyzing the small observed residuals in a modern theoretical framework, the long-sought <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>Σ</mo><mo>−</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>frame tight to the CMB naturally emerges. Finally, if quantum non-locality reflects some effect propagating at vastly superluminal speed <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>v</mi><mrow><mi>Q</mi><mi>I</mi></mrow></msub><mo>→</mo><mo>∞</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>, its ultimate origin could be hidden somewhere in the infinite speed <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>c</mi><mi>s</mi></msub><mo>→</mo><mo>∞</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> of vacuum density fluctuations.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/9/481quantum non-localitycosmic microwave backgroundether drift experiments |
| spellingShingle | Maurizio Consoli Alessandro Pluchino Paola Zizzi Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments Say Universe quantum non-locality cosmic microwave background ether drift experiments |
| title | Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments Say |
| title_full | Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments Say |
| title_fullStr | Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments Say |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments Say |
| title_short | Quantum Non-Locality and the CMB: What Experiments Say |
| title_sort | quantum non locality and the cmb what experiments say |
| topic | quantum non-locality cosmic microwave background ether drift experiments |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/8/9/481 |
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