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What you're referring to is known as a "hidden variable theory," (the photon does have some fixed polarization, but the value is hidden from us). This was argue
by folie 8y ago
What you're referring to is known as a "hidden variable theory," (the photon does have some fixed polarization, but the value is hidden from us). This was argued about for decades, until tests of Bell's inequality (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell%27s_theorem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell%27s_theorem) essentially disproved hidden variables. Particles really can exist in a superposition of multiple states simultaneously, and it's not because of our lack of knowledge or our frame of reference. It's a delightfully strange result.
- improbable22 8y agoYes. Although maybe it's worth adding that what was disproved is local hidden variables. The not-disproved hidden variable ideas must have explicit instantaneous action at large distances, i.e. faster-than-light communication among the hidden variables. And that is a pretty ugly thing to have; before Bell (and Aspect, maybe) one could hope that this would not be necessary.