English

The Impossibility of the Counterfactual Computation for all Possible Outcomes

Quantum Physics 2015-06-26 v3

Abstract

Recent proposal for counterfactual computation [Hosten et al., Nature, 439, 949 (2006)] is analyzed. It is argued that the method does not provide counterfactual computation for all possible outcomes. The explanation involves a novel paradoxical feature of pre- and post-selected quantum particles: the particle can reach a certain location without being on the path that leads to this location.

Cite

@article{arxiv.quant-ph/0610174,
  title  = {The Impossibility of the Counterfactual Computation for all Possible Outcomes},
  author = {Lev Vaidman},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:quant-ph/0610174},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

This version includes a better answer to Hosten and Kwiat comment [quant-ph/0612159]