Entanglement and indistinguishability in a quantum ontology of properties

Abstract

The aim of the present article is to address the problem of entanglement in the case of indistinguishable particles from a perspective based on the algebraic formalism of quantum mechanics, which is the natural formal counterpart of an ontology of properties, devoid of the ontological category of object. On the basis of this perspective, an algebraic definition of entanglement is adopted, which supplies a unified conception, valid for both the distinguishable and the indistinguishable cases. An additional advantage of this algebraic definition is that it does justice to the relativity of entanglement, a feature that cannot be ignored.

Keywords: Algebraic formalism; Entanglement; Indistinguishability; Ontology of properties.