Alternative Experimental Protocol for a PBR-Like Theorem

Marcoen J. T. F. Cabbolet

Yemima Ben‐Menahem

İnanç Şahin, Gazi Alumur

Marcoen J. T. F. Cabbolet

D. J. Miller

Pusey, Barrett, and Rudolph (PBR) have recently proven an important new theorem in the foundations of quantum mechanics [Pusey et al., Nature Phys. 8, 475 (2012)]. Here we propose alternative experimental protocols which lead to the PBR result for a special case and a weaker PBR-like result generally. Alternative experimental protocols support the assumption of measurement independence required for the PBR theorem.

Zeynab Faroughi, Ali Ahanj, Samira Nazifkar +1 more

The fundamental nature of quantum wave function has been the subject of many discussions since the beginning of the quantum theory. It either corresponds to an element of reality $(\Psi-ontic)$ or it is a subjective state of knowledge about underlying reality $(\Psi-epistemic)$. Pusey, Barrett, and Rudolph (PBR) showed that epistemic interpretations of the quantum wave function are in contradiction with the predictions of quantum under some assumptions. In this paper, we introduce a laboratory protocol with triple quantum dot as a three-spin interaction system to study the PBR no-go theorem. By this experimental model, we show that the epistemic interpretation of the quantum state is in contradiction with quantum theory, based only on the assumption that measurement settings can be prepared freely and independent of each other.