A theoretical physicist who, with Nicholas Harrigan, made the distinction between psi-ontic models and psi-epistemic models precise. In an ontological model of a quantum system, the key question is whether different pure quantum states can assign nonzero probability to the same underlying physical state. This separates overlap of preparation distributions from the different question of whether the wave function is a complete description.[ref]
Einstein, incompleteness, and the epistemic view of quantum states by Nicholas Harrigan and Robert W. Spekkens. Classification of ontological models and distinction between epistemicity and incompleteness
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Robert Spekkens is a theoretical physicist known for his work in the field of quantum foundations and quantum information. He has made significant contributions to understanding the conceptual and interpretational issues of quantum mechanics, particularly in exploring the nature of quantum states and information. His research often focuses on the relationship between quantum and classical physics, as well as the implications of quantum theory for concepts such as locality and realism.