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A local hidden-variable model with selective photon generation for EPR correlations

Daniele Cenni

Published Jun 22, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A local hidden-variable model is constructed for the postselected correlations of nonmaximally entangled photon pairs in the states |Phi_r> and |Psi_r>, continuous in r over [-1,1] from the product state to the maximally entangled state. Its root-mean-square deviations from the quantum correlations and from the coincidence probabilities, averaged over a uniform grid of polarizer angles, are 0.0322 and 0.0233, smaller than those of the sigmoid-threshold model of Ref. [14] by factors of 2.7 to 3.5. The source emits a photon pair with a probability that depends on the hidden variable and on r; each station detects with a probability that depends on the local hidden variable and on the local polarizer angle. This dependence violates the fair-sampling assumption and exploits the detection loophole. On the postselected sample the model violates the CHSH inequality for |Phi_r>, reaching 2*sqrt(2) at |r|=1, with single-detector efficiency ≈ 85%, outside the assumptions of both the CHSH inequality and Mermin's 82.8% efficiency bound. The CH--Eberhard parameter, which does not assume fair sampling, satisfies J<0 over the full entanglement range.

DOI
10.5281/zenodo.20792410

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A local hidden-variable model is constructed for the postselected correlations of nonmaximally entangled photon pairs in the states |Phi_r> and |Psi_r>, continuous in r over [-1,1] from the product state to the maximally entangled state. Its root-mean-square deviations from the quantum correlations and from the coincidence probabilities, averaged over a uniform grid of polarizer angles, are 0.0322 and 0.0233, smaller than those of the sigmoid-threshold model of Ref. [14] by factors of 2.7 to 3.5. The source emits a photon pair with a probability that depends on the hidden variable and on r; each station detects with a probability that depends on the local hidden variable and on the local polarizer angle. This dependence violates the fair-sampling assumption and exploits the detection loophole. On the postselected sample the model violates the CHSH inequality for |Phi_r>, reaching 2*sqrt(2) at |r|=1, with single-detector efficiency ≈ 85%, outside the assumptions of both the CHSH inequality and Mermin's 82.8% efficiency bound. The CH--Eberhard parameter, which does not assume fair sampling, satisfies J<0 over the full entanglement range.
A theoretical and numerical analysis of a Bell-type experiment is presented, where linear polarization measurements on nonmaximally entangled two-qubit states are modeled through a sigmoid-based threshold mechanism that violates the fair-sampling assumption required by the CHSH inequality. Numerical simulations characterize how closely this local construction can reproduce quantum-like correlations in the postselected detected sample, for both the | Φ r 〉 and | Ψ r 〉 states over a range of entanglement parameters. For the tested configurations, the model produces CHSH-type violations only in the postselected detected sample through a setting-dependent detection mechanism, operating outside the assumptions of both the CHSH inequality and Mermin’s 82.8% efficiency bound. The model is not in conflict with loophole-free Bell experiments, which specifically close the detection loophole exploited here. The CH–Eberhard analysis in the one-detector-per-side configuration yields J < 0 throughout the full range of entanglement parameters, as required for a strictly local model. The model is further extended with a local adaptive-threshold mechanism implementing one-sided memory. A paired comparison shows that this specific memory rule produces a systematic and reproducible shift in the CH–Eberhard parameter J relative to the fixed-threshold model, while leaving the CH–Eberhard analysis qualitatively unchanged under the tested conditions. The results characterize how a local, setting-dependent postselection mechanism shapes Bell-test statistics across a range of entanglement parameters, within the specific configurations and threshold rules tested.
Summary form only given. In a Bell experiment, one prepares pairs of entangled particles and sends them to two observers, Alice and Bob, for measurement and detection [1]. For some choices of their measurement settings, Alice and Bob may observe strong correlations between their results in accordance with the predictions of quantum mechanical theory. Conversely, any physical theory that assumes no physical influence can be faster than the speed of light and that properties of physical systems are elements of reality [2] - a local realistic theory - can predict only a limited amount of correlation between Alice's and Bob's measurement outcomes. Upon observing correlations sufficient to violate Bell's inequality, Alice and Bob must abandon local realism.It is common that in an experiment, some particles emitted by the source will not be detected. Then the subset of detected particles might display correlations that violate the Bell inequality although the entire ensemble can be described by a local realistic theory [3]. To achieve a conclusive Bell violation without assuming that the detected particles are a “fair” sample, a highly efficient setup is necessary. Due to experimental limitations, fair sampling has been assumed in most Bell experiments performed to date, and it has never been possible to avoid this assumption with photons due to the absence of efficient sources and detectors. Here we report the first Bell experiment with photons that does not rely on any fair-sampling assumption. In our experiment we employ the Eberhard inequality, a Bell inequality that by construction does not rely on the fair-sampling assumption [4]. Our source of entangled photon pairs utilizes bulk-crystal spontaneous parametric downconversion in a Sagnac configuration, which has shown to be very efficient [5, 6]. For photon detection, we employ superconducting transition-edge sensors, which not only offer high efficiency but also are intrinsically free of dark counts [7]. This combination of features is imperative for an experiment in which no correction of count rates can be tolerated. We achieve uncorrected coupling efficiencies over 73% in each arm of our source, facilitating a violation of the inequality by nearly 70 standard deviations after five minutes of measurement. Since the first experimental Bell test, a satisfactory laboratory realization of the motivating gedankenexperiment has remained an outstanding challenge. The two other main assumptions include “locality” [8, 9] and “freedom of choice” [10]. Invoking any of these renders an experiment vulnerable to explanation by a local realistic theory. The realization of an experiment that is free of all three assumptions-a so-called loopholefree Bell test-remains an important outstanding goal for the physics community with strong implications for quantum technologies. We note that with our experiment, photons are the first physical system for which each of these three assumptions has been successfully addressed, albeit in different experiments. This represents promise for practical applications like one-sided device-independent quantum key distribution [11], and in an additional test, we also demonstrate that our experimental apparatus is capable of implementing this protocol on both sides.
We present a source of entangled photons that violates a Bell inequality free of the "fair-sampling" assumption, by over 7 standard deviations. This violation is the first reported experiment with photons to close the detection loophole, and we demonstrate enough "efficiency" overhead to eventually perform a fully loophole-free test of local realism. The entanglement quality is verified by maximally violating additional Bell tests, testing the upper limit of quantum correlations. Finally, we use the source to generate "device-independent" private quantum random numbers at rates over 4 orders of magnitude beyond previous experiments.
An experiment has recently been performed to demonstrate quantum nonlocality by establishing contextuality in one of a pair of photons encoding four qubits; however, low detection efficiencies and use of the fair-sampling hypothesis leave these results open to possible criticism due to the detection loophole. In this Letter, a physically motivated local hidden-variable model is considered as a possible mechanism for explaining the experimentally observed results. The model, though not intrinsically contextual, acquires this quality upon post-selection of coincident detections. • A local hidden-variable model is applied to a recent quantum optics experiment. • The experiment was designed to demonstrate quantum nonlocality via local contextuality. • Using a single fitting parameter, the model accurately predicts the observed results.
EPR showed that two particles emitted from a source can be entangled by a shared wavefunction where two non-commuting observables (position, momentum) can be simultaneously real, leading to a contradiction with quantum mechanics (two non-commuting variables can not be simultaneously real). John Bell derived an inequality where any local hidden variables prediction is bounded and quantum mechanics can violate the inequality. Bell tests on correlated photon pairs showed a clear violation of the Bell inequality and agreement with quantum mechanics. This study revealed that the Bell inequality holds at any individual instances in a given system but it does not hold over the entire population. The Bell inequality is not an incompatibility criterion for local hidden variables vs quantum mechanics rather it is a criterion for an individual nature vs population dynamics. The nonlocality prediction given by wavefunction is a system approximation and local causality (photon polarization) provides a complete description of the Bell tests. The paper concludes with great satisfaction that the measurement of two correlated photons at a distance was a local cause (photon-filter interaction did not violate the special theory of relativity).
In derivating of Bell’s inequalities, the probability distribution is supposed to be a function only of a hidden variable. We point out that the true implication of the probability distribution of Bell’s correlation function is the distribution of joint measurement outcomes on the two sides. It is therefore a function of both the hidden variable and the settings. In this case, Bell’s inequalities fail. Our further analysis shows that Bell’s locality holds neither for dependent events nor for independent events. We think that the measurements of EPR pairs are dependent events, and hence violation of Bell’s inequalities cannot rule out the existence of local hidden variable. To explain the results of EPR-type experiments, we suppose that a polarization-entangled photon pair can be composed of two circularly or linearly polarized photons with correlated hidden variables, and a couple of experiments of quantum measurement are proposed. The first uses delayed measurement on one photon of the EPR pair to demonstrate directly whether measurement on the other could have any nonlocal influence on it. Then several experiments are suggested to reveal the components of the polarization-entangled photon pair. The last one uses successive polarization measurements on a pair of EPR photons to show that two photons with the same quantum state behave the same under the same measuring conditions.