Non-Contextuality, Finite Precision Measurement and the Kochen-Specker Theorem

Meyer originally raised the question of whether non-contextual hidden variable models can, despite the Kochen-Specker theorem, simulate the predictions of quantum mechanics to within any fixed finite experimental precision (Meyer, D. 1999. Phys. Rev. Lett., 83, 3751-3754). Meyer’s result was extended by Kent (Kent, A. 1999. Phys. Rev. Lett., 83, 37553757). Clifton and Kent later presented constructions of non-contextual hidden variable theories which, they argued, indeed simulate quantum mechanics in this way (Clifton, R and Kent, A. 2000. Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. A, 456, 2101-2114). These arguments have evoked some controversy. Among other things, it has been suggested that the Clifton-Kent models do not in fact reproduce correctly the predictions of quantum mechanics, even when finite precision is taken into account. It has also been suggested that careful analysis of the notion of contextuality in the context of finite precision measurement motivates definitions which imply that the Clifton-Kent