This paper describes a device, consisting of a central source and two widely separated detectors with six switch settings each, that provides a simple gedanken demonstration of the nonclassical correlations that are the subject of Bell’s theorem without relying on either statistical effects or the occurrence of rare events. The mechanism underlying the operation of the device is revealed for readers with a knowledge of quantum mechanics.
REFERENCES
1.
J. S.
Bell
, “On the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox
,” Physics (Long Island City, N.Y.)
1
, 195
–200
(1964
).Reprinted in J. S. Bell, Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics (Cambridge U.P., Cambridge, New York, 1987).
2.
A popular exposition of Bell’s theorem can be found in
N. D.
Mermin
, “Bringing home the atomic world: Quantum mysteries for anybody
,” Am. J. Phys.
49
, 940
–943
(1981
).An expanded version of this paper can be found as Chap. 12 in N. D. Mermin, Boojums All the Way Through (Cambridge U.P., Cambridge, 1990).
See also
N. D.
Mermin
, “Is the moon there when nobody looks? Reality and the quantum theory
,” Phys. Today
38
(4
), 38
–47
(1985
).3.
N. D.
Mermin
, “Quantum mysteries revisited
,” Am. J. Phys.
58
, 731
–734
(1990
). This is a nontechnical account of the GHZ proof of Bell’s theorem in Ref. 5.4.
N. D.
Mermin
, “Quantum mysteries refined
,” Am. J. Phys.
62
, 880
–887
(1994
). This is a nontechnical account of Hardy’s proof of Bell’s theorem in Ref. 6.5.
D. M. Greenberger, M. Horne, and A. Zeilinger, “Going beyond Bell’s theorem,” in Bell’s Theorem, Quantum Theory, and Conceptions of the Universe, edited by M. Kafatos (Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, 1989), pp. 69–72;
D. M.
Greenberger
, M.
Horne
, A.
Shimony
, and A.
Zeilinger
, “Bell’s theorem without inequalities
,” Am. J. Phys.
58
, 1131
–1143
(1990
).6.
L.
Hardy
, “Non-locality for two particles without inequalities for almost all entangled states
,” Phys. Rev. Lett.
71
, 1665
–1668
(1993
).A simple, and mouth watering, account of Hardy’s discovery can also be found in
P. G.
Kwiat
and L.
Hardy
, “The mystery of the quantum cakes
,” Am. J. Phys.
68
, 33
–36
(2000
).7.
A.
Einstein
, B.
Podolsky
, and N.
Rosen
, “Can quantum mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete?
” Phys. Rev.
47
, 777
–780
(1935
).8.
N. D.
Mermin
, “Simple Unified Form for No-Hidden-Variables Theorems
,” Phys. Rev. Lett.
65
, 3373
–3376
(1990
).9.
A.
Peres
, “Incompatible results of quantum measurements
,” Phys. Lett. A
151
, 107
–108
(1990
).10.
N. D.
Mermin
, “Hidden variables and the two theorems of John Bell
,” Rev. Mod. Phys.
65
, 803
–815
(1993
).11.
J. S.
Bell
, “On the problem of hidden variables in quantum mechanics
,” Rev. Mod. Phys.
38
, 447
–452
(1966
);S.
Kochen
and E. P.
Specker
, “The problem of hidden variables in quantum mechanics
,” J. Math. Mech.
17
, 59
–88
(1967
).12.
A.
Peres
, “Two simple proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem
,” J. Phys. A
24
, 174
–178
(1991
).13.
A.
Cabello
, “Bell’s theorem without inequalities and probabilities for two observers
,” Phys. Rev. Lett.
86
, 1911
–1914
(2001
);A.
Cabello
, “All versus nothing inseparability for two observers
,” Phys. Rev. Lett.
87
, 010403
(2001
).14.
P. K.
Aravind
, “Bell’s theorem without inequalities and only two distant observers
,” Found. Phys. Lett.
15
, 399
–405
(2002
);
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2004 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2004
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to the American Journal of Physics and The Physics Teacher as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.