Violation of Bell's inequality: Must the Einstein locality really be abandoned?

[摘要] Since John Bell has established his famous inequality and several independent experiments have confirmed the distinct polarization correlation of entangled photons predicted by quantum mechanics it is evident that quantum mechanics cannot be explained by local realistic theories. Actually, the observed polarization correlation can be deduced from wave optical considerations. The correlation has its origin in the phase coupling of the two circularly polarized wave packets leaving the photon source simultaneously. The experimental results violate Bell's inequality although no non-local interactions have to be assumed. In consequence the principle of locality remains valid in the scope of quantum mechanics. However, the principle of realism has to be replaced by the less stringent principle of contextuality.

[发布机构] Fachbereich Physik, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Str. 56, Kaiserslautern; D-67663, Germany^1

[效力级别] 力学 [学科分类] 力学，机械学

[关键词] Bell's inequality;Circularly polarized waves;Contextuality;Entangled photons;Non-local interactions;Phase coupling;Photon sources;Polarization correlation