Theoretical model of a purported empirical violation of the predictions of quantum theory.

We show that an alternative quantum theory proposed by Stapp directly violates Einstein causality. This model was constructed to explain a single questionable experiment on paranormal psychic abilities in humans. Version 2.2. 05 NOV 98, submitted to Skepticallnquierer Our comment concerns the article by Henry P. Stapp, 'Theoretical model of a purported empirical violation of the predictions of quantum theory" [1]. This paper develops a theoretical model of nonlinear quantum mechanics that is loosely based on work of Weinberg [2], and that turns out to violate Einstein causality.'as we shall show below. It is clear that this article has been specifically created to explain the apparently anomalous results found in what is essentially a single, unreproduced, highly questionable experiment designed to establish the physical reality of . i paranonnal phenomena. In particular, Stapp's reference 8 is to the telekinesis experiment of Schmidt (3], published in the Journal of Parapsychology. (Stapp actually participated in one phase of this experiment, a "sub-experiment" and co-authored an experimental report with Schmidt [3]; a fact that is not evident from Stapp's theory paper [1].) The conclusion of Schmidt-that Stapp is trying to model theoretically-is that the experimental test subjects are using their psychic powers to alter the laws of quantum mechanics and thereby modify the outcome of events that have already occurred in the past! In the span of one minute we could construct at least 10 theories involving 10 separate modifications to the Schrodinger equation that would produce one or more of the following nonphysical effects: noncausality, nonlocality, energy non-conservation, nonunitary evolution of the wave function, and parity violation. In the absence of overwhelming experimental support that these effects indeed occur, such modifications do not constitute new physical theories but rather