In a series of very interesting papers [1-7], Joy Christian constructed a counterexample to Bell's theorem. This counterexample does not have the same assumptions as the original Bell's theorem, and therefore it does not represent a genuine disproof in a strict mathematical sense. However, assuming the physical relevance of the new assumptions, the counterexample is shown to be a contextual hidden variable theory. If Bell's theorem's importance is to rule out contextual hidden variable theories obeying relativistic locality, then Joy Christian's counterexample achieves its aim. If however contextual hidden variables theories are not considered genuine physically theories and Bell's theorem's importance stems from its ability to be experimentally confirmed, then Joy Christian's counterexample does not diminish the importance of Bell's theorem. The implications of Joy Christian's counterexample are discussed in the context of information theory.
Version 2 note: Subsequent analysis disproved the mathematical consistency of Joy Christian's model. This paper was based on the assumption of the mathematical validity of the model. Except for the addition of this note, the content of this paper was not modified in any other way.
Key mathematical and conceptual errors are pointed out regarding the paper ''Disproof of Bell's Theorem by Clifford Algebra Valued Local Variables'' by Joy Christian.
Four critical elementary mathematical mistakes in Joy Christian's counterexample to Bell's theorem are presented. Consequently, Joy Christian's hidden variable model cannot reproduce any quantum mechanics results and cannot be used as a counterexample to Bell's theorem. The mathematical investigation is followed by a short discussion about the possibility to construct other hidden variable theories. A tutorial section on relevant Clifford algebra topics was added at the end to help interested readers decide for themselves the validity of Joy's claims. Also an appendix section discusses recent …
In a series of recent papers (quant-ph/0703179, quant-ph/0703244, arXiv:0707.1333) Joy Christian claims to have "disproved Bell's theorem". Though his work is certainly intellectually stimulating, we argue below that his main claim is unwarranted.
This is a collection of my responses to the criticisms of my argument against the impossibility proof of John Bell, which aims to undermine any conceivable local realistic completion of quantum mechanics. I plan to periodically update this preprint instead of creating a new one for each response.
The recent Geneva experiment strikingly displays lawlike reversibility together with quantum nonseparability. As in any probabilistic physics correlation expresses interaction, and as Born's probability rules grafted upon de Broglie's wave mechanics turn the probability scheme into the code of an information transmitting telegraph, the Lorentz and CPT invariant transition amplitude reversibly carries a zigzagging causation.
I identify a number of errors in Richard Gill's purported refutation (arXiv:1203.1504) of my disproof of Bell's theorem. In particular, I point out that his central argument is based, not only on a rather trivial misreading of my counterexample to Bell's theorem, but also on a simple oversight of a freedom of choice in the orientation of a Clifford algebra. What is innovative and original in my counterexample is thus mistaken for an error, at the expense of the professed universality and generality of Bell's theorem.
In a couple of recent preprints Moldoveanu has suggested that there are errors in my disproof of Bell's theorem. Here I show that this claim is false. In particular, I show that my local-realistic framework is incorrectly and misleadingly presented in both of his preprints. In addition there are a number of serious mathematical and conceptual errors in his discussion of my framework. For example, contrary to his claim, my framework is manifestly non-contextual. In particular, quantum correlations are understood within it as purely topological effects, not contextual effects.
We illustrate an explicit counterexample to Bell's theorem by constructing a pair of spin variables in S^3 that exactly reproduces the EPR-Bohm correlation in a manifestly local-realistic manner.
The failure of Bell's theorem for Clifford algebra valued local variables is further consolidated by proving that the conditions of remote parameter independence and remote outcome independence are duly respected within the recently constructed exact, local realistic model for the EPR-Bohm correlations. Since the conjunction of these two conditions is equivalent to the locality condition of Bell, this provides an independent geometric proof of the local causality of the model, at the level of microstates. In addition to local causality, the model respects at least seven other conceptual and op…
It is shown that Bell's theorem fails for the Clifford algebra valued local realistic variables. This is made evident by exactly reproducing quantum mechanical expectation value for the EPR-Bohm type spin correlations observable by means of a local, deterministic, Clifford algebra valued variable, without necessitating either remote contextuality or backward causation. Since Clifford product of multivector variables is non-commutative in general, the spin correlations derived within our locally causal model violate the CHSH inequality just as strongly as their quantum mechanical counterparts.
An elementary topological error in Bell's representation of the EPR elements of reality is identified. Once recognized, it leads to a topologically correct local-realistic framework that provides exact, deterministic, and local underpinning of at least the Bell, GHZ-3, GHZ-4, and Hardy states. The correlations exhibited by these states are shown to be exactly the classical correlations among the points of a 3 or 7-sphere, both of which are closed under multiplication, and hence preserve the locality condition of Bell. The alleged non-localities of these states are thus shown to result from mis…
It is shown that even if the linear entropy of mixed two-qubit state is not smaller then 0.457, Bell - CHSH inequalities can be violated. This contradicts the result obtained in the paper of E. Santos [1].
I argue that quantum mechanics is a realistic theory, but it violates either strong locality (no superluminal influences) or strict causality (diiferent effects cannot follow from the same cause).
Recently K. Banaszek, I. A. Walmsley, K. Wodkiewicz (quant-ph/0012097) commented on our Proposal for the Measurement of Bell-Type Correlations from Continuous Variables [T. C. Ralph, W. J. Munro, R. E. S. Polkinghorne, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2035 (2000)]. Their comment is based on a blatant misreading and misunderstanding of our letter and as such is simply wrong.
This study points out a semi-quantum protocol for private comparison using Bell states (SQPC) suffering from the double C-NOT attack and the malicious agent attack. The attacker can easily obtain information through these attacks. An improved protocol is proposed, which can effectively resist both of these attacks.
In a recent paper [J. Opt. B: Quantum Semiclass. Opt. 5 (2003) 155-157], a quantum key distribution scheme based on entanglement swapping was proposed, which exhibited two improvements over the previous protocols. In this Comment, it is shown that the scheme has no properties as been discussed.
In a recent comment \cite{ch1} it has been claimed that an entangled-based quantum key distribution protocol proposed in \cite{zhang} and its generalization to d-level systems in \cite{v1} are insecure against an attack devised by the authors of the comment. We invalidate the arguments of the comment and show that the protocols are still secure.
It is shown that Marinatto's claim [Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 258901 (2003)] that the proof of "Bell's theorem without inequalities and without probabilities for two observers" [A. Cabello, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 1911 (2001)] requires four spacelike separated observers rather than two is unjustified.
In an article published in 2010, Kiukas and Werner claim to have shown that Bohmian Mechanics does not make the same empirical predictions as ordinary Quantum Mechanics. We explain that such claim is wrong.
In a recent article (Found Sci (2020) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10699-020-09666-0) Marek Czachor claims that the Bell inequality cannot be proved because variables of complementary measurements cannot be added or multiplied. Even though he has correctly identified the problems existing with the orthodox interpretation of the Bell inequality and dealt with them in an original way, the interpretation he addresses do not pertain to the original formulation given by John Stewart Bell.
In the paper [Phys. Rev. A 65, 052331(2002)], an entanglement-based quantum key distribution protocol for d-level systems was proposed. However, in this Comment, it is shown that this protocol is insecure for a special attack strategy.
Marinatto claims that in the proof of Bell's theorem without inequalities and without alignments [A. Cabello, Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 230403 (2003)], local observables cannot be measured by means of tests on individual qubits. Marinatto's claim is incorrect. To support this, the proof is explicitly rewritten in terms of tests on individual qubits.
In a recent note, Cavalcanti and Scarani (CS) constructed a counter local-hidden-variable model to explain the violation of our inequalities in Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 170404 (2010). Here, we briefly discuss some issues in response to the comments raised by CS.
Contrary to what Lambare [arXiv:2008.00369] assumes, in non-Newtonian calculus (a calculus based on non-Diophantine arithmetic) an integral is typically given by a nonlinear map. This is the technical reason why all the standard proofs of Bell-type inequalities fail if non-Newtonian hidden variables are taken into account. From the non-Newtonian perspective, Bell's inequality is a property of a limited and unphysical class of hidden-variable models. An explicit counterexample to Bell's theorem can be easily constructed.
In a recent paper [T. C. Ralph, W. J. Munro, R. E. S. Polkinghorne, Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2035 (2000)], the authors propose a test for Bell's inequalities based on quadrature measurements for a correlated parametric source. We present here a local hidden variable model which reproduces all the expectation values predicted in the described experimental scheme, and point out that the proposal is based on an inconsistent use of Bell's inequalities.
It is stated by C. Simon, quant-ph/0410032, that the definition of "classicality" used in quant-ph/0310116 is "much narrower than Bell's concept of local hidden variables" and that, in the separable quantum case, the validity of the perfect correlation form of the original Bell inequality is necessarily linked with "the assumption of perfect correlations if the same (quantum) observable is measured on both sides". Here, I prove that these and other statements in quant-ph/0410032 are misleading.
In this reply I address the comment by W-Y. Hwang and O. Gittsovich on my paper [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 82}, 032313 (2010)]. The authors of the comment point out that I use implicit assumption that the alphabet of the eavesdropper is binary. They claim that such assumption is unrealistic. Here I show that even without this assumption the main result of my paper still holds.
A recent experiment yielding results in agreement with quantum theory and violating Bell inequalities was interpreted [Nature 526 (29 Octobert 2015) p. 682 and p. 649] as ruling out any local realistic theory of nature. But quantum theory itself is both local and realistic when properly interpreted using a quantum Hilbert space rather than the classical hidden variables used to derive Bell inequalities. There is no spooky action at a distance in the real world we live in if it is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics.
We exhibit a local-hidden-variable model in agreement with the results of the two-photon coincidence experiment made by Torgerson et al. [Phys. Lett. A 204 (1995) 323]. The existence of any such model shows that the experiment does not exclude local realism.
Designing a quantum key agreement (QKA) protocol is always a challenging task, because both the security and the fairness properties have to be considered simultaneously. Recently, Zhu et al. (Quantum Inf Process 14(11): 4245-4254) pointed out that Shukla et al.'s QKA protocol (Quantum Inf Process 13(11): 2391-2405) has some security flaws (which lead to the Participant Attack). Moreover, they proposed an improvement to avoid these weaknesses. However this study points out that the improved protocol also suffers from a colluding attack, i.e., two dishonest participants in the protocol can coll…
Mermin states in a recent paper that his nontechnical version of Bell's theorem stands and is not invalidated by time and setting dependent instrument parameters as claimed in one of our previous papers. We identify a number of misinterpretations (of our definitions) and mathematical inconsistencies in Mermin's paper and show that Mermin's conclusions are therefore not valid: his proof does not go forward if certain possible time dependencies are taken into account.
It is shown that the model introduced by Cabello et al. to criticize the Franson experiment suffers from the same weakness as the previous model introduced by Aerts et al. with the same purpose. It is also shown why we can assume with confidence that the Franson experiment does violate local realism.
In this Comment we show that Cabello's argument [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 1911 (2001)] which proves the nonlocal feature of any classical model of quantum mechanics based on Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) criterion of elements of reality, must involve at least four distant observers rather than the two employed by the author. Moreover we raise a remark on the necessity of performing a real experiment confirming Cabello's argument.
It is shown that the before-before (or Suarez-Scarani) experiment refutes hidden variable models with a deterministic ("realistic") nonlocal part, and the experimental violation of Leggett-type inequalities models with a random nonlocal part and a biased random local one. Therefore the claim that Groeblacher et al. present "an experimental test of nonlocal realism" [Nature, 446, 871-875 (2007)] is misleading, and Marek Zukowski's comment [arXiv:0809.0072v1] misses the point. A new experiment is proposed.
This Comment argues that two assumptions, which are presented as basic assumptions of Bell's theorem in [J. Handsteiner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 060401 (2017)] and elsewhere, in fact follow from more basic premises. Measurement independence follows from (i) the use of free variables and (ii) the causal arrow of time. Determinism follows from (i) local causality and (ii) perfect correlations (predicted by quantum mechanics). In particular, it is pointed out that the measurement-independence violating toy model of [M.J.W. Hall, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 250404 (2010)], is based on a retro-causa…
In the above paper, it is claimed that with a particular use of the Bell inequality a simple single photon experiment could be performed to show the impossibility of any deterministic hidden variable theory in quantum optics. A careful analysis of the concept of probability for hidden variables and a detailed discussion of the hidden variable model of de Broglie-Bohm show that the reasoning and main conclusion of this paper are not correct.
Errors in Eberly's derivation of several Bell inequalities are pointed out: (1) it is based on an equation that is incorrect; (2) it uses neither two-particle states nor locality to derive Bell's inequalities and; (3) it does not use entanglement to obtain violations of Bell's inequalities. Even leading and outstanding physicists -- as certainly is the case of Prof. Eberly -- sometimes make elementary mistakes, and this by no means diminishes the importance of their scientific contribution. In general, this is a consequence of an excessive attachment to an idea (nowadays it has become fashiona…
The statement of E.R. Loubenets, Phys. Rev. A 69, 042102 (2004), that separable states can violate classical probabilistic constraints is based on a misleading definition of classicality, which is much narrower than Bell's concept of local hidden variables. In a Bell type setting the notion of classicality used by Loubenets corresponds to the assumption of perfect correlations if the same observable is measured on both sides. While it is obvious that most separable states do not satisfy this assumption, this does not constitute "non-classical" behaviour in any usual sense of the word.
Recently, Pawlowski [Phys. Rev. A 82, 032313 (2010)] claimed to have proven the security of a quantum key distribution by using only the monogamy of Bell's inequality violations. In the proof, however, he tacitly assumed that the eavesdropper's outcome is binary. The assumption cannot be justified because Eve's (eavesdropper's) power can only be limited by natural principle. We provide a counter-example for a step of the proof.
The purpose of this comment is to show that a reinterpretation of the results from the Letter: "Physics and Metaphysics of Wigner's Friends: Even performed pre-measurements have no results" allows for reaching the conclusion "pre-measurements have no resul" [arXiv:2003.07464] based only on postulates of quantum mechanics without additional assumptions on irreversibility. Additionally, with supplementary reasoning based on Bell's theorem, one can show that unitary decoherence cannot be solely responsible for the quantum-to-classical transition, and an additional irreversibility model is require…
In a recent interesting article Chris Nagele, Ebubechukwu O. IloOkeke, Peter P. Rohde, Jonathan P. Dowling, and Tim Byrnes discuss an entanglement swapping experiment using a setup where it is possible to switch the time ordering of measurements. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the very same idea was introduced in two previous papers, and briefly address some important points related to the subject.
We present comparative analysis of Gill-Weihs-Zeilinger-Zukowski arguments directed against Hess-Philipp anti-Bell arguments. In general we support Hess-Philipp viewpoint to the sequence of measurements in the EPR-Bohm experiments as stochastic time-like process. On the other hand, we support Gill-Weihs-Zeilinger-Zukowski arguments against the use of time-like correlations as the factor blocking the derivation of Bell-type inequalities. We presented our own time-analysis of measurements in the EPR-Bohm experiments based on the frequency approach to probability. Our analysis gives strong argume…
I point out critical errors in the paper "Bell's Theorem Versus Local Realism in a Quaternionic Model of Physical Space" by J. Christian, published in IEEE Access. Christian's paper in fact contains several conflicting models. None of them form counterexamples to Bell's theorem. Most of Christian's paper is devoted to a model based on the detection loophole due to Pearle (1970).
In a recent article Giustina et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 250401 (2015)] report on an advanced Bell experiment, simultaneously closing loopholes for local hidden-variable theories. The authors claim that 'local realism' has been refuted, unless 'truly exotic hypotheses' are made. Here I argue that a particularly wide and natural class of local hidden-variable theories survives, for instance when the hidden variables describe a background field. Such background-based theories exploit the freedom-of-choice loophole, which cannot be closed for this type of hidden variables. The dynamics of such …
A recent Letter by Hess and Philipp claims that Bell's theorem neglects the possibility of time-like dependence in local hidden variables, hence is not conclusive. Moreover the authors claim that they have constructed, in an earlier paper, a local realistic model of the EPR correlations. However, they themselves have neglected the experimenter's freedom to choose settings, while on the other hand, Bell's theorem can be formulated to cope with time-like dependence. This in itself proves that their toy model cannot satisfy local realism, but we also indicate where their proof of its local realis…
Rydberg atoms traversing a micromaser cavity one after the other can emerge in correlated states, and according to Copenhagen quantum mechanics this may lead to a violation of Bell's inequality, that is, to a Bell sum S>2. S is here calculated in various ideal physical situations including those with (1) different initial states of the atoms, (2) different free adjustable parameters, being either the phase or the turning angle of a classical radiation field put behind the cavity, and (3) either equal or different Rabi angles for successive atoms. The experiments are crucial for a realist inter…
In this Comment we show that Cabello's proof of Bell's theorem without inequalities [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 230403 (2003)] does not exhibit two of the three "remarkable properties" which the proof is claimed to possess. More precisely it is our purpose to show that property (c) of Cabello's proof, stating that ``local observables can be measured by means of tests on individual qubits" is definitely false since it has been obtained by a wrong use of the basic rules of the quantum formalism, while property (b), stating that ``distant local setups do not need to be aligned since the require perfect…
In a recent article Hensen et al. [Nature 526, 682 (2015)] report on a sophisticated Bell experiment, simultaneously closing, for the first time, loopholes for local hidden-variable theories (HVTs). The authors claim that 'local realism' has been refuted, under certain natural assumptions. The aim of the present Comment is twofold. First, it is urged that the class of local HVTs that is eliminated by the reported experiment should be specified in greater detail than is done by the authors. Second, it is argued that the class of local HVTs that still survives is wide and natural. For instance, …
We study the quantum controlled and probabilistic teleportation protocol via a four-cluster state (Front. Phys. (2017) 12: 120306). The protocol cannot achieve the goal that if the teleportation fails, it can be repeated without copies of the teleported state. And the reason is that all the information of the teleported state shifts to the receiver's particle after Bell measurement and the information cannot shift back to the sender without other entangled states. To realize the claimed goal, a new quantum controlled and probabilistic teleportation protocol using the same four-cluster state is…
In quant-ph/0201134 Jennewein et al. report experiments demonstrating entanglement swapping under various conditions. In one instance, they claim to have exhibited Bell inequality violations by a pair of photons prior to performing any entangling operations on the pair. However, the Bell inequality violation results in this case from post-selection of the data, not from quantum non-locality.
The view exists that the Bell inequality is a mere inconsistent application of classical concepts to a well-established quantum world. In the article, ``Nonlocality claims are inconsistent with Hilbert-space quantum mechanics'' [Phys. Rev. A, 101, 022117, (2020)], Robert B. Griffiths advocates for quantum theory's locality. Although R. B. Griffiths presents valuable insights in favor of quantum mechanics' local character, he argues the Bell inequality is an inconsistent application of classical physics to quantum mechanics. We explain why a correct assessment of the Bell inequality does not in…
Recently, Chen \em et al\rm.\ [New J. Phys. {\bf 13} (2011) 083018] presented experimental results, accompanied by quantum-mechanical analysis, showing that the quantum interference behavior of Bell states could be simulated in a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer whose inputs are pseudothermal light beams obtained by passing laser light through a rotating ground-glass diffuser. Their experiments and their theory presumed low-flux operation in which the simulated quantum interference is observed via photon-coincidence counting. We first show that the Chen \em et al\rm.\ photon-coincidence co…
