Abstract
Early in the development of quantum mechanics1, the following question was raised: is it possible (is it necessary) to understand the probabilistic nature of the predictions of quantum mechanics by invoking a more precise description of the world, at a deeper level ? Such a description would complete quantum mechanics, like statistical mechanics complete thermodynamics by invoking the motions of the molecules. Reasoning on a Gedanken-experiment, Einstein Podolsky and Rosen2 concluded to the necessity of completing quantum mechanics. On the other hand, Bohr disagreed with this conclusion3, and one could think that the commitment to either position was only a matter of taste or of philosophical position. This situation changed dramatically when John Bell4 discovered that the two points of view lead to different predictions for the Bohm’s version5 of the E.P.R. Gedanken-experiment. Bell’s paper opened a route towards real experiments. The closest realization of that Gedanken-experiment uses pairs of low energy photons correlated in polarization, as suggested in the late sixties by Clauser, Home, Shimony and Holt6. The second part of this paper will be devoted to the description of these experiments.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
J. Von Neumann, Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics, Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J, (1955).
A. Einstein, P. Podolsky and N. Rosen, Can Quantum Mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete ?, Phys. Review 47; 777 (1935).
N. Bohr, Can Quantum-Mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete ?, Phys. Rev, 48; 696 (1935).
J.S. Bell, On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox, Physics 1 195 (1964). J.S. Bell, Introduction to the Hidden-Variable Question, in; “Foundations of Quantum Mechanics”, B. d’Espagnat ed., Academic, N.Y. (1972).
D. Bohm, “Quantum Theory”, Prentice-Hall, Englewoods Cliffs, N.J. (1951).
J. F. Clauser, M.A. Home, A. Shimony and R.A. Holt, Proposed experiment to test local hidden-variable theories, Phys. Rev. Lett. 23: 880 (1969).
J.F. Clauser and A. Shimony, Bell’s Theorem: Experimental Tests and Implications, Rep. Progr. Phys. 41: 1881 (1978).
F. Selleri and G. Tarrozzi, Quantum Mechanics Reality and Separability Riv. Nuovo Cimento 4: 1 (1981).
D. Bohm and Y. Aharonov, Discussion of Experimental Proof for the paradox of Einstein, Rosen and Podolsky, Phys. Rev. 108: 1070 (1957).
J.F. Clauser, and M.A. Horne, Experimental consequences of objective local theories, Phys. Rev. D 10: 526 (1974).
A. Fine, Hidden Variables, Joint Probability, and the Bell Inequalities, Phys. Rev. Lett. 48: 291 (1982).
A. Aspect, Proposed Experiment to Test Separable Hidden-Variable Theories, Phys. Lett. 54 A: 117 (1975). A. Aspect, Proposed Experiment to test the nonseparability of Quantum Mechanics, Phys. Rev. D 14; 1944 (1976).
E.S. Fry, Two-photons Correlations in Atomic Transitions., Phys. Rev. A 8: 1219 (1973).
S. J. Freedman and J.F. Clauser, Experimental test of local hidden-variable theories, Phys. Rev. Lett. 28: 938 (1972).
F. M. Pipkin, Atomic Physics Tests of the Basic Concepts in Quantum Mechanics, in: “Advances in Atomic and Molecular Physics”, D.R, Bates and B. Bederson, ed., Academic (1978).
J.F. Clauser, Experimental investigation of Polarization Correlation Anomaly, Phys. Rev. Lett. 36: 1223 (1976).
E. S. Fry, and R.C. Thompson, Experimental Test of Local Hidden-Variable Theories, Phys. Rev. Lett. 37: 465 (1976).
A. Aspect, C. Imbert, and G. Roger, Absolute Measurement of an Atomic Cascade Rate Using a Two Photon coincidence Technique. Application to the 4p21So - 4s4p 1P1–4s21So Cascade of Calcium excited by a Two Photon Absorption, Opt. Comm. 34: 46 (1980).
A. Aspect, P. Grangier and G. Roger., Experimental Tests of Realistic Local Theories via Bell’s Theorem, Phys. Rev. Lett. 47: 460 (1981)
A. Aspect, P. Grangier and G. Roger., Experimental Realization of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm Gedankenexperiment: A New Violation of Bell’s Inequalities, Phys. Rev. 1Lett. 49: 91 (1982).
A. Garuccio and V.A. Rapisarda, Bell’s Inequalities and the Four-Coincidence Experiment, Nuovo Cimento 65 A: 269 (1981). V.A. Rapisarda, On the measurement by Dichotomic Analyzers of the Polarization Correlation of Optical Photons Emitted in Atomic Cascade, Lett. Nuovo Cimento 33: 437 (1982).
A. Aspect, J. Dalibard and G. Roger, Experimental Test of Bell’s Inequalities Using Variable Analyzers, Phys. Rev. Lett. 49, 1804 (1982).
T. K. Lo, and A. Shimony, Proposed Molecular Test of Local Hidden-Variables Theories, Phys. Rev. A 23: 3003 (1981)
P. Grangier, Correlation de polarisation de photons émis dans la cascade 4p21So - 4s4p 1P1 - 4s21So du Calcium: test des inégalités de Bell. Thèse de 3ème Cycle, Paris (1982) M. O. Scully, How to make quantum mechanics look like a hidden- variable theory and vice versa, Phys. Rev. D 10: 2477 (1983). Although it is not fully pointed out by the author, this last model can be imbedded in a generalized formalism of local supplementary parameters theories4,10, with quantities - interpreted as probabilities - assuming values greater than 1 or negative.
W. Mückenheim, A resolution of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox, Lett. Nuovo Cim. 35: 300 ( 1981 ). R. P. Feynman, Negative Probabilities, Preprint, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (1984).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1986 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Aspect, A. (1986). Experimental Tests of Bell’s Inequalities with Pairs of Low Energy Correlated Photons. In: Moore, G.T., Scully, M.O. (eds) Frontiers of Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics. NATO ASI Series, vol 135. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2181-1_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2181-1_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9284-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-2181-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive