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American Journal of Physics

Exploring entanglement with the help of quantum state measurement

Ethan Dederick, M. Beck

Published Sep 24, 2014• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have performed a series of experiments using a spontaneous parametric down-conversion source to produce pairs of photons in either entangled or non-entangled polarization states. We determine the full quantum mechanical polarization state of one photon, conditioned on the results of measurements performed on the other photon. For non-entangled states, we find that the measured state of one photon is independent of measurements performed on the other. However, for entangled states, the measured state does depend on the results of measurements performed on the other photon. This is possible because of the nonlocal nature of entangled states. These experiments are suitable for an undergraduate teaching laboratory.

DOI
10.1119/1.4883230

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We have performed a series of experiments using a spontaneous parametric down-conversion source to produce pairs of photons in either entangled or non-entangled polarization states. We determine the full quantum mechanical polarization state of one photon, conditioned on the results of measurements performed on the other photon. For non-entangled states, we find that the measured state of one photon is independent of measurements performed on the other. However, for entangled states, the measured state does depend on the results of measurements performed on the other photon. This is possible because of the nonlocal nature of entangled states. These experiments are suitable for an undergraduate teaching laboratory.
We have developed a series of undergraduate teaching laboratories that explore some of the fundamentals of quantum mechanics. All of the experiments involve performing measurements on individual photons or entangled-photon pairs. The experiments include: "Proving" that light consists of photons, single-photon interference, and tests of local realism. We will describe the experiments, placing an emphasis on an experiment which measures the quantum-mechanical polarization state of a photon. This experiment explicitly demonstrates that measurements performed on one member of an entangled-photon pair effect the results of measurements of the other photon. We will also describe how we have integrated the experiments with our upper-level undergraduate quantum mechanics course.
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We use polarization-entangled photon pairs to demonstrate quantum nonlocality in an experiment suitable for advanced undergraduates. The photons are produced by spontaneous parametric downconversion using a violet diode laser and two nonlinear crystals. The polarization state of the photons is tunable. Using an entangled state analogous to that described in the Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen paradox, we demonstrate strong polarization correlations of the entangled photons. Bell’s idea of a hidden variable theory is presented by way of an example and compared to the quantum prediction. A test of the Clauser, Horne, Shimony, and Holt version of the Bell inequality finds S=2.307±0.035, in clear contradiction of hidden variable theories. The experiments described can be performed in an afternoon.