Based on the study of the effects of the suppression of cross-correlation of photons on a beam splitter and preparation of squeezed states, an experimental proof is proposed for the lack of determinate values of the phase and phase difference of photons in Fock states. It is shown that this conclusion unveils the intrinsic inconsistency of interpreting quantum mechanics on the basis of the nonlocal theory of hidden variables and proves the inadequacy of the latter.
Based on the study of the effects of the suppression of cross-correlation of photons on a beam splitter and preparation of squeezed states, an experimental proof is proposed for the lack of determinate values of the phase and phase difference of photons in Fock states. It is shown that this conclusion unveils the intrinsic inconsistency of interpreting quantum mechanics on the basis of the nonlocal theory of hidden variables and proves the inadequacy of the latter.
We analyze the scheme of an experiment in which, by examining suppression effects of the cross correlation of photons in a beamsplitter and by preparing squeezed states, it is proven that the phase difference of photons in Fock states cannot acquire a certain value, since, otherwise, the simultaneous existence of these two effects would be impossible. We show that this reveals an intrinsic inconsistency of the nonlocal classical interpretation of quantum mechanics on the basis of nonlocal classical “realism.”
Abstract This paper reviews the schemes of experiments in which it was possible to prove, based on measured photon cross-correlation suppression effects in a beam splitter and preparing squeezed states, the nonexistence of a definite value of the photon phase difference in Fock states (otherwise, these two effects cannot exist simultaneously). It is shown that this conclusion emphasizes the internal inconsistency of interpreting the quantum mechanics in the spirit of classical nonlocal ‘realism’ — in the sense that measured physical quantities have no definite values a priori , i.e., before the instant of measurement.
The peculiarities of the behavior of photons in various experimental situations are considered. Variants of double-beam interference of a single photon and the possibility of forming a standing wave by this photon are analyzed; three-beam interference is also discussed. The effects observed in this case prove the absence of particular values of the measured quantities up to the moment of measurement; in the latter case, the number of photons in the field does not a priori have a certain value, in spite of the fact that the system is in the energy state. An experiment is also considered that proves the absence of a certain phase and the phase difference of photons in the Fock state, which makes it possible to treat different types of theories of hidden parameters, including nonlocal ones, more critically.
Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen pointed out that the quantum-mechanical description of “physical reality” implies an unphysical, instantaneous action between distant measurements. To avoid such an action at a distance, these three concluded that quantum mechanics had to be incomplete. However, its extensions involving additional “hidden variables,” allowing for the recovery of determinism and locality, have been disproved experimentally (Bell’s theorem). In this paper, an opposite solution of the paradox is presented, based on the greater indeterminism of the modern quantum field theory (QFT) description of particle physics, which prevents the preparation of any state having a definite number of particles. The resulting uncertainty in photon radiation has interesting consequences in quantum information theory (e.g., cryptography and teleportation). Moreover, since it allows for fewer elements of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) physical reality than the old non-relativistic quantum mechanics, QFT satisfies the EPR condition of completeness without the need for hidden variables. The residual physical reality never violates locality; thus, the unique objective proof of “quantum nonlocality” is removed in an interpretation-independent way. At the same time, the supposed nonlocality of the EPR correlations turns out to be a problem in interpretation of the measurement process. If we do not rely on hidden variables or new physics beyond QFT, the viable interpretation is a minimal statistical one, which preserves locality and Lorentz symmetry.
Quantum mechanics is widely believed to be inconsistent with local realism because J.S. Bell proved the contradiction between quantum mechanics and the hidden variable theories based on reality and locality of matter. As described herein, the relation between quantum mechanics and local realism is discussed. This paper presents the question of whether any version of local realism is contradicted by quantum mechanics. The answer is negative. An interpretation is proposed by which the contradiction is explained using physical variables of two types: (1) physical variables of the first type, such as positions and angles (i.e. coordinates), are realistic variables and always possess definite values independently of measurements; (2) those of the second type, such as momenta, angular momenta, and spins (i.e., conserved quantities), are non-realistic variables, which possess no value before measurement. Value definiteness of the first type provides a reliable basis to physical reality of matter, and non-reality of the second type might solve the problem of inconsistency between quantum mechanics and local realism.
The present standard interpretation of quantum mechanics invokes nonlocality and state reduction at space-like separated points during measurements on entangled systems. While there is no understanding of the physical mechanism of such nonlocal state reduction, the experimental verifications of quantum correlations different from that predicted by local realistic theories have polarized the physicists' opinion in favour of nonlocality. I show conclusively that there is no such spooky state reduction, vindicating the strong views against nonlocality held by Einstein and Popper. Experimental support to this proof is also discussed. The Bell's inequalities arise due to ignoring the phase information in the correlation function and not due to nonlocality. This result goes against the current belief of quantum nonlocality held by the majority of physicists; yet the proof is transparent and rigorous, and therefore demands a change in the interpretation of quantum mechanics and quantum measurements. The hypothesis of wave function collapse is inconsistent with experimental observations on entangled correlated systems.