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Three noncontextual hidden variable models for the Peres-Mermin square

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Abstract

I will argue that the Peres-Mermin square does not necessarily rule out a value-definite (deterministic) noncontextual hidden variable model if the operators are not given a physical interpretation satisfying the following two requirements: (i) each operator is uniquely realized by a single physical measurement; (ii) commuting operators are realized by simultaneous measurements. To underpin this claim, I will construct three hidden variable models for three different physical realizations of the Peres-Mermin square: one violating (i), another violating (ii), and a third one violating both (i) and (ii).

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office, K-115593 and K-134275 and a Senior Research Scholarship of the Institute of Advanced Studies Kőszeg. I wish to thank Thomas Filk for valuable discussions.

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Correspondence to Gábor Hofer-Szabó.

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This article belongs to the Topical Collection: EPSA2019: Selected papers from the biennial conference in Geneva

Guest Editors: Anouk Barberousse, Richard Dawid, Marcel Weber

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Hofer-Szabó, G. Three noncontextual hidden variable models for the Peres-Mermin square. Euro Jnl Phil Sci 11, 30 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-020-00339-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-020-00339-0

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