Contextuality in Bohmian Mechanics

Abstract

The Kochen—Specker theorem shows that noncontextual hidden variable interpretations of quantum theory are impossible. This does not mean, however, that hidden variable theories are not possible. In fact, the Bohm model is just such a theory. We show by considering an example involving interferometers how the Bohm model is contextual, thus circumventing the Kochen—Specker theorem. We will find that the result of a measurement of an operator in Bohmian mechanics is not just dependent on the context of other measurements that are also being performed at the same time, but also dependent on the way in which a particular measurement is performed.