Skip to main content
Log in

Unconditional Quantum Correlations do not Violate Bell’s Inequality

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper I demonstrate that the quantum correlations of polarization (or spin) observables used in Bell’s argument against local realism have to be interpreted as conditional quantum correlations. By taking into account additional sources of randomness in Bell’s type experiments, i.e., supplementary to source randomness, I calculate (in the standard quantum formalism) the complete quantum correlations. The main message of the quantum theory of measurement (due to von Neumann) is that complete correlations can be essentially smaller than the conditional ones. Additional sources of randomness diminish correlations. One can say another way around: transition from unconditional correlations to conditional can increase them essentially. This is true for both classical and quantum probability. The final remark is that classical conditional correlations do not satisfy Bell’s inequality. Thus we met the following conditional probability dilemma: either to use the conditional quantum probabilities, as was done by Bell and others, or complete quantum correlations. However, in the first case the corresponding classical conditional correlations need not satisfy Bell’s inequality and in the second case the complete quantum correlations satisfy Bell’s inequality. Thus in neither case we have a problem of mismatching of classical and quantum correlations. The whole structure of Bell’s argument was based on identification of conditional quantum correlations with unconditional classical correlations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bell, J.S.: On the einstein podolsky rosen paradox. Physics 1(3), 195–200 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bell, J.S.: Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1987)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Khrennikov, A.: Interpretations of Probability. VSP Int. Sc. Publishers, Utrecht/Tokyo (1999); De Gruyter, Berlin, (2009), second edition (completed)

  4. Kolmogoroff, A.N.: Grundbegriffe der Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung Springer Verlag, Berlin (1933); English translation: Kolmogorov, A.N.: Foundations of Theory of Probability. Chelsea Publishing Company, New York (1956)

  5. Khrennikov, A.: Contextual Approach to Quantum Formalism. Springer, Berlin (2009)

    Book  MATH  Google Scholar 

  6. Khrennikov, A.: Frequency analysis of the EPR-Bell argumentation. Found. Phys. 32, 1159–1174 (2002)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  7. Khrennikov, A.: Bell-Boole inequality: nonlocality or probabilistic incompatibility of random variables? Entropy 10, 19–32 (2008)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Avis, D., Fischer, P., Hilbert, A., Khrennikov, A.: Single, complete, probability spaces consistent with EPR-Bohm-Bell experimental data. In: Accardi, L., Adenier, G., Fuchs, C.A., Jaeger, G., Khrennikov, A., Larsson, J.-A., Stenholm, S. (eds.) Foundations of Probability and Physics-5, vol. 1101, pp 294–301. AIP, Melville, NY (2009)

  9. Khrennikov, A.: CHSH Inequality: quantum probabilities as classical conditional probabilities. Found. Phys. 45, 711–725 (2015). doi:10.1007/s10701-014-9851-8

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Von Neumann, J.: Mathematische Grundlagen der Quantenmechanik. Springer, Berlin (1932). English translation: Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics. Princeton University Press, Princeton (1955)

  11. Aspect, A.: Three experimental tests of Bell inequalities by the measurement of polarization correlations between photons. PhD-thesis, Orsay Press (1983)

  12. Aspect, A.: Bell’s Theorem: The Naive View of an Experimentalist. arXiv:quant-ph/0402001

  13. Accardi, L.: The probabilistic roots of the quantum mechanical paradoxes. In: Diner, S., Fargue, D., Lochak, G., Selleri, F. (eds.) The Wave-Particle Dualism. A Tribute to Louis de Broglie on his 90th Birthday, pp. 47–55. D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Accardi, L.: Some loopholes to save quantum nonlocality. In: Khrennikov, A. (ed.) Foundations of Probability and Physics-3, vol. 750, pp. 1–20. AIP, Melville, NY (2005)

  15. Hess, K., De Raedt, H., Michielsen, K.: Hidden assumptions in the derivation of the Theorem of Bell. Phys. Scr. 2012, 014002 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. De Raedt, K., Keimpema, K., De Raedt, H., Michielsen, K., Miyashita, S.: A local realist model for correlations of the singlet state. Euro. Phys. J. B 53, 139–142 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. De Raedt, H., Jin, F., Michielsen, K.: Data analysis of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm laboratory experiments, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? V, In: Roychoudhuri, C., De Raedt, H., Kracklauer, A.F. (eds.) Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 8832, 88321N–88321N-11 (2013)

  18. Kupczynski, M.: Bertrand’s paradox and Bell’s inequalities. Phys. Lett. A 121, 205–207 (1987)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Kupczynski, M.: Entanglement and Bell inequalities. J. Russ. Laser Res. 26, 514–523 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Hess, K.: Einstein Was Right!. Pan Stanford, Singapore (2014)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. Griffiths, R.B.: Consistent quantum theory. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2002)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  22. De Raedt, H., Hess, K., Michielsen, K.: Boole-Bell inequalities applicable to quantum theory. J. Comput. Theor. Nanosci. 8, 1011–1039 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrei Khrennikov.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Khrennikov, A. Unconditional Quantum Correlations do not Violate Bell’s Inequality. Found Phys 45, 1179–1189 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-015-9930-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-015-9930-5

Keywords

Navigation