We revisit the computation of correlations of spin projections onto unit vectors for spin-1/2 particles in Quantum Mechanics. We then choose one of the Boole inequalities that, as we recall, must be obeyed by collections of sequences of normalized spin-1/2 projections onto unit vectors that belong to, say, the plane that is orthogonal to the classical trajectory or to the three dimensional space. Next we define the concept of being a-p for i-indexed sequences of spin-1/2 particles: it turns out that a sequence of spin-1/2 particles is a-p if and only if the particles behave as if they had indeed been prepared (in the usual sense) to have definite spins +1 or -1 along the axis a, the sequence of signs being pre-determined. The a-p property is formulated in a way abstract enough to let one generalize it and we define the concept of being a-p and b-p. However, using our chosen Boole inequality we prove that no particle sequence can be both a-p and b-p when a and b are not co-linear. We next consider two modifications of Quantum Mechanics: - The first one by assuming both Weak Realism, the weakest form of Realism needed to develop any main theorem in Bell's Theory, and Locality. - The second one by assuming Weak Realism and an hypothesis that turns out to be none else than (relativistic) Causality extended to cover as well the observable values that make sense only if one assumes Weak Realism. In both cases we arrive at the conclusion that in the EPRB setting where successive pairs of spin-1/2 particles are prepared in the so-called singlet state, one of these particles sequences is both a-p and b-p and a and b are the opposite of the vectors respectively used to project the spin of the other particle and to get the Realism-based alternate value for a projection. Thus the usual discussions of Bell's inequalities under such hypotheses do not even make physical sense.
Given a sequence of pairs (
pi,
pi) of spin-
1/2 particles in the singlet state, assume that Alice measures the normalized projections
ai of the spins of the
pi's along vector $\mathbit{a}$ while Bob measures the normalized projections
bi of the spins of the
pi's along vector $\mathbit{b}$. Then quantum mechanics (QM) lets one evaluate the correlation
⟨a,b⟩ as $\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{cos}({\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathbit{a}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathbit{b}})$ where ${\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathbit{v}}$ is the angle between the vector $\mathbit{v}$ and a reference vector chosen once and for all and in a fixed plane. Assuming classical microscopic realism (CMR) there exist also normalized projection pairs (${a}_{i}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, ${b}_{i}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) of the spins of the pairs (
pi,
pi) along (${\mathbit{a}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, ${\mathbit{b}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) so that $⟨{a}^{\ensuremath{'}},{b}^{\ensuremath{'}}⟩=\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{cos}({\ensuremath{\theta}}_{{\mathbit{a}}^{\ensuremath{'}}}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{{\mathbit{b}}^{\ensuremath{'}}})$. Since all projections are in ${\ensuremath{-}1,1}$, $|⟨c,d⟩+⟨c,e⟩|+|⟨f,d⟩\ensuremath{-}⟨f,e⟩|\ensuremath{\le}2$ for
c,
d,
e, and
f in ${a,b,{a}^{\ensuremath{'}},{b}^{\ensuremath{'}}}$. Assuming locality (the impossibility of any effect of an event on another event when said events are spatially separated) beside QM and CMR, Bell's theory lets one deduce various violations of this inequality at some choices of quadruplets $Q\ensuremath{\equiv}(\mathbit{a},\mathbit{b},{\mathbit{a}}^{\ensuremath{'}},{\mathbit{b}}^{\ensuremath{'}})$. Our main result is the existence of such
Q's where at least one of the above inequalities is violated if one only assumes QM, CMR, and some very mild further hypotheses that only concern the behavior of correlations that appear in these inequalities near special
Q's.
Bell-type experiments that test correlated observables typically involve measurements of spin or polarization on multi-particle systems in singlet states. These observables are all non-commuting and satisfy an uncertainty relation. Theoretically, the non-commuting nature should be independent of whether the singlet state consists of multiple particles or a single particle. Recent experiments in single neutron interferometry have in fact demonstrated this. In addition, if Bell-type inequalities can be found for experiments involving spin and polarization, the same should be true for experiments involving other non-commuting observables such as position and momentum as in the original EPR paper. As such, an experiment is proposed to measure (quantum mechanically) position and momentum for a single oscillator as a means for deriving a Bell-type inequality for these correlated observables. The experiment, if realizable, would shed light on the basic nature of matter, perhaps pointing to some form of self-entanglement, and would also help to further elucidate a possible mechanism behind the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Violation of these inequalities would, in fact, offer yet another confirmation of the principle.
In this paper, firstly considering that in separable states, the measurement of one particle has no effect on the measurement of the second particle, we show that Alice and Bob can find directions in which the results of their measurements on the spin of the particle are always maximized. In other words, the state of the particle is an eigenstate for the operator that is applied in that direction, so the sum of the spins of two particles can have a maximum value. We will argue that in entangled states, due to the effect of particle measurement results on each other, Alice and Bob cannot find the desired operators. Therefore, in such measurements, the total spin of the particles will always be less than the mentioned maximum. But we ask them to try and measure in directions that will get the most value. Because this value is maximum for separable states and minimum for fully entangled states, and for the rest of the states, it will be proportional to the degree of entanglement between the two maximum and minimum values, we set this parameter as We are calling it the "separability index". Then, based on this index, the measure of entanglement was introduced and extended to states with higher dimensions. In the end, examples of di-qubit states di-qutrit states, and di-qudit states were investigated and the efficiency of the measure was confirmed by the results of the examples. Considering that in this measure, the values of entanglement are calculated based on the expectation values and we can measure the expectation values in the experiment, we hope to be one step closer to the testability of the entanglement value.
Abstract A novel representation of spin 1/2 combines in a single geometric object the roles of the standard Pauli spin vector and spin state. Under the spin-position decoupling approximation it consists of the ordered sum of three orthonormal vectors comprising a gauge phase. In the one-particle case the representation: (1) is Hermitian; (2) is oriented due to ordering; (3) reproduces all standard expectation values, including the total one-particle spin modulus A; (4) constrains basis opposite spins to have same orientation; (5) allows to formalize irreversibility in spin measurement. In the two-particle case: (1) entangled spin pairs have opposite orientation and precisely related gauge phases; (2) the dimensionality of the spin space doubles due to variation of orientation; (3) the four maximally entangled states are naturally defined by the four improper rotations in 3D: reflections onto the three orthogonal frame planes (triplets) and inversion (singlet). The cross-product terms in the expression for the squared total spin of two particles relates to experiment and they yield all standard expectation values after measurement. Here spin is directly defined and transformed in 3D orientation space, without use of eigen algebra and tensor product as in the standard formulation. The formalism allows working with whole geometric objects instead of only components, thereby helping keep a clear geometric picture of ‘on paper’ (controlled gauge phase) and ‘on lab’ (uncontrolled gauge phase) spin transformations.
Abstract A new representation for spin 1/2 in the even 3D subalgebra of the spacetime algebra (STA) combines in a single geometric object the roles of the standard Pauli spin vector and spin state. It is a vector quantity comprising a gauge phase. In the one-particle case the representation (1) is Hermitian; (2) chiral; (3) reproduces all standard expectation values, including the total one-particle spin modulus ; (4) constrains a spinor basis representing opposite spins to preserve handiness (chirality); (5) the gauge phase allows to explicitly formalize irreversibility in spin measurement. In the two-particle case it (1) identifies entangled spin pairs as having opposite handiness and precise gauge phase relations; (2) doubles the dimensionality of the spin space due to variation of handiness; (3) the four maximally entangled states are naturally derived by pairing spins that are reflections (triplets) and inversions (singlet) of each-other. The cross-product terms in the expression for the squared total spin of two particles can be affected by experiment and they yield the standard expectation values after measurement. Here I directly define and transform spin in 3D orientation space, without invoking concepts like abstract Hilbert space and tensor product as in the standard formulation. The STA formalism allows working with whole geometric objects instead of only components, thereby helping keep a clear geometric picture of ‘on paper’ (controlled gauge phase) and ‘on lab’ (uncontrolled gauge phase) spin transformations.