The Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) version of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox is widely regarded as a conclusive logical argument that rules out the possibility of describing quantum phenomena within the framework of any model of local hidden variables in which the observers are free to choose their own experimental settings. In this paper, we show, however, that the GHZ argument implicitly relies on a subtle, though crucial, assumption that is not required by fundamental physical principles, and which had gone unnoticed. Namely, we note that the argument implicitly assumes the existence of an absolute angular frame of reference with respect to which the polarization properties of the hypothetical hidden configurations of the entangled particles, as well as the orientations of the measurement devices that test them, can be defined. We further note that such an absolute frame of reference may not exist if the hidden configurations of the entangled particles spontaneously break the gauge rotational symmetry. Indeed, by skipping the disputed requirement we are able to build a model of local hidden variables for the GHZ state, which complies with the 'free-will' hypothesis and reproduces the quantum mechanical predictions. Our model, thus, completes-in the EPR sense-the quantum description of the GHZ state.
The Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) version of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox is widely regarded as a conclusive logical argument that rules out the possibility of describing quantum phenomena within the framework of any model of local hidden variables in which the observers are free to choose their own experimental settings. In this paper, we show, however, that the GHZ argument implicitly relies on a subtle, though crucial, assumption that is not required by fundamental physical principles, and which had gone unnoticed. Namely, we note that the argument implicitly assumes the existence of an absolute angular frame of reference with respect to which the polarization properties of the hypothetical hidden configurations of the entangled particles, as well as the orientations of the measurement devices that test them, can be defined. We further note that such an absolute frame of reference may not exist if the hidden configurations of the entangled particles spontaneously break the gauge rotational symmetry. Indeed, by skipping the disputed requirement we are able to build a model of local hidden variables for the GHZ state, which complies with the 'free-will' hypothesis and reproduces the quantum mechanical predictions. Our model, thus, completes-in the EPR sense-the quantum description of the GHZ state.
The Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger~(GHZ) version of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen~(EPR) paradox is widely regarded as a conclusive logical argument that rules out the possibility of describing quantum phenomena within the framework of a local and realistic model of hidden variables in which the observers are free to choose their own experimental settings. In this paper we show, however, that the GHZ argument implicitly relies on an additional crucial assumption, which is not required by fundamental physical principles and had gone unnoticed. Namely, we note that the argument implicitly assumes the existence of an absolute angular frame of reference with respect to which the polarization properties of the hypothetical hidden configurations of the entangled particles as well as the orientation of the measurement apparatus that test the system can be defined. We further note that such an absolute frame of reference would not exist if the hidden configurations of the entangled particles spontaneously break the gauge rotational symmetry. Indeed, by skipping this unnecessary additional assumption we are able to build an explicitly local and realistic model of hidden variables for the GHZ state, which complies with the 'free-will' hypothesis and reproduces the quantum mechanical predictions, and thus completes the description of the system in the EPR sense.
The Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger version of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox is widely regarded as a conclusive logical argument that rules out the possibility of reproducing the predictions of Quantum Mechanics within the framework of any physical theory sharing the notions of reality and relativistic causality that we acknowledge as a given in our classical descriptions of the macroscopic world. Thus, this renowned argument stands as a seemingly insurmountable roadblock on the path to a very desired, physically intuitive understanding of quantum phenomena and, in particular, quantum entanglement. In this paper, we notice, however, that the GHZ argument involves unaccounted spurious gauge degrees of freedom and that it can be overcome once these degrees are properly taken into account. It is then possible to explicitly build a successful statistical model for the GHZ experiment based on the usual notions of relativistic causality and physical reality. This model, thus, completes—in the EPR sense—the quantum description of the GHZ state and paves the way to a novel intuitive interpretation of the quantum formalism and a deeper understanding of the physical reality that it describes.
In quantum theory, no-go theorems are important as they rule out the existence of a particular physical model under consideration. For instance, the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) theorem serves as a no-go theorem for the nonexistence of local hidden variable models by presenting a full contradiction for the multipartite GHZ states. However, the elegant GHZ argument for Bell's nonlocality does not go through for bipartite Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) state. Recent study on quantum nonlocality has shown that the more precise description of EPR's original scenario is "steering", i.e., the nonexistence of local hidden state models. Here, we present a simple GHZ-like contradiction for any bipartite pure entangled state, thus proving a no-go theorem for the nonexistence of local hidden state models in the EPR paradox. This also indicates that the very simple steering paradox presented here is indeed the closest form to the original spirit of the EPR paradox.
The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox gives an argument for the incompleteness of quantum mechanics based on the premises of local realism. A general view is that the argument is compromised, because EPR's premises are falsified by Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) and Bell experiments. In this paper, we present an EPR argument based on premises not falsifiable by these experiments. We propose macroscopic EPR and GHZ experiments using spins Sθ defined by two macroscopically distinct states. The analyzers that realize the unitary operations Uθ determining the measurement settings θ are devices that create macroscopic superposition states. For a system with two macroscopically distinct states available, macroscopic realism (MR) posits a predetermined outcome for a measurement Sθ distinguishing between the states. Deterministic macroscopic realism (dMR) posits MR for the system prior to the interaction Uθ. Weak macroscopic realism (wMR) posits MR for the system after Uθ, at the time tf (when the system is prepared for a final "pointer" measurement), the outcome of Sθ not being changed by interactions that might occur at a remote system B. The premise also posits that if the outcome for SθA of a system A can be predicted by a pointer measurement on a system B defined after the interaction fixing the setting at B, then the outcome for SθA is determined at this time. The GHZ predictions negate dMR but are consistent with wMR. Yet, an EPR paradox arises based on wMR for the set-up proposed by Schrödinger, where one measures two complementary spins simultaneously, "one by direct, the other by indirect" measurement. We revisit the original EPR paradox and find similarly that an EPR argument can be based on a weak form of local realism not falsifiable by GHZ or Bell tests.
The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox gives an argument for the incompleteness of quantum mechanics based on a plausible criterion for reality, as well as the assumption of locality. A general view is that the argument is compromised, because EPR's premises are falsified by Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) and Bell experiments. In this paper, we present an EPR argument based on premises not falsified by these experiments. First, we consider macroscopic EPR-Bohm, Bell, and GHZ experiments using spins ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{S}}_{\ensuremath{\theta}}$ defined by two macroscopically distinct states. The analyzers that realize the unitary operations ${U}_{\ensuremath{\theta}}$ determining the measurement settings $\ensuremath{\theta}$ are nonlinear devices creating macroscopic superposition states. We note two definitions of macroscopic realism (MR). For a system with two macroscopically distinct states available to it, MR posits a predetermined outcome for the measurement ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{S}}_{\ensuremath{\theta}}$ distinguishing between the states. Deterministic macroscopic realism assumes MR for the system defined prior to the interaction ${U}_{\ensuremath{\theta}}$ being carried out but is falsifiable by the macroscopic Bell and GHZ proposals. Motivated by arguments to uphold MR (without resorting to decoherence), as well as no-signaling and the properties of a meter, we define a set of premises referred to as weak macroscopic realism (wMR). Weak macroscopic realism (wMR) posits MR for the system after ${U}_{\ensuremath{\theta}}$, at the time tf---when the system is prepared with respect to the measurement basis, ready for a ``pointer'' measurement and readout. For this system, wMR posits that the outcome of ${\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{S}}_{\ensuremath{\theta}}$ is determined and not changed by interactions that might subsequently occur at a remote system B. The premise wMR also posits a weaker version of EPR's criterion for reality. Importantly, we show that the GHZ and Bell predictions are consistent with wMR. Yet, an EPR paradox arises for a macroscopic EPR-Bohm state, based on wMR. As considered by Schr\"odinger, it is possible to measure two complementary spins of system A simultaneously, ``one by direct, the other by indirect measurement'': If we assume wMR, then once both settings are fixed, the outcomes of the two spins are both determined. We revisit the original EPR paradox and find a similar result: An EPR argument can be based on a set of premises, weak local realism, which we show are not falsifiable by GHZ or Bell experiments.
The Bell's theorem stands as an insuperable roadblock in the path to a very desired intuitive solution of the EPR paradox and, hence, it lies at the core of the current lack of a clear interpretation of the quantum formalism. The theorem states through an experimentally testable inequality that the predictions of quantum mechanics for the Bell's polarization states of two entangled particles cannot be reproduced by any statistical model of hidden variables that shares certain intuitive features. In this paper, we show, however, that the proof of the Bell's theorem involves a subtle, though crucial, assumption that is not required by fundamental physical principles and, hence, it is not necessarily fulfilled in the experimental setup that tests the inequality. Indeed, this assumption can neither be properly implemented within the standard framework of quantum mechanics. Namely, the proof of the theorem assumes that there exists a preferred absolute frame of reference, supposedly provided by the lab, which enables to compare the orientation of the polarization measurement devices for successive realizations of the experiment and, hence, to define jointly their response functions over the space of hypothetical hidden configurations for all their possible alternative settings. We notice, however, that only the relative orientation between the two measurement devices in every single realization of the experiment is a properly defined physical degree of freedom, while their global rigid orientation is a spurious gauge degree of freedom. Hence, the preferred frame of reference required by the proof of the Bell's theorem does not necessarily exist. In fact, it cannot exist in models in which the gauge symmetry of the experimental setup under global rigid rotations of the two detectors is spontaneously broken by the hidden configurations of the pair of entangled particles and a non-zero geometric phase appears under some cyclic gauge symmetry transformations. Following this observation, we build an explicitly local model of hidden variables that reproduces the predictions of quantum mechanics for the Bell's states.