Kochen-Specker (KS) vector systems are sets of vectors in R^3 with the property that it is impossible to assign 0s and 1s to the vectors in such a way that no two orthogonal vectors are assigned 0 and no three mutually orthogonal vectors are assigned 1. The existence of such sets forms the basis of the Kochen-Specker and Free Will theorems. Currently, the smallest known KS vector system contains 31 vectors. In this paper, we establish a lower bound of 18 on the size of any KS vector system. This requires us to consider a mix of graph-theoretic and topological embedding problems, which we investigate both from theoretical and practical angles. We propose several algorithms to tackle these problems and report on extensive experiments. At the time of writing, a large gap remains between the best lower and upper bounds for the minimum size of KS vector systems.
The Kochen-Specker theorem is a fundamental result in quantum foundations that has spawned massive interest since its inception. We show that within every Kochen-Specker graph, there exist interesting subgraphs which we term $01$-gadgets, that capture the essential contradiction necessary to prove the Kochen-Specker theorem, i.e,. every Kochen-Specker graph contains a $01$-gadget and from every $01$-gadget one can construct a proof of the Kochen-Specker theorem. Moreover, we show that the $01$-gadgets form a fundamental primitive that can be used to formulate state-independent and state-depend…
Two types of inequalities, Kochen-Specker inequalities and noncontextuality inequalities, are both used to demonstrate the incompatibility between the noncontextual hidden variable model and quantum mechanics. It has been thought that noncontextuality inequalities are much more potent than Kochen-Specker inequalities, since the latter are constrained by the Kochen-Specker rules, which are regarded as an extra constraint imposed on the noncontextual hidden variable model. However, we find that a noncontextuality inequality exists in a ray set if and only if a Kochen-Specker inequality exists in…
A proof of the generalized Kochen-Specker theorem in two dimensions due to Cabello and Nakamura is extended to all higher dimensions. A set of 18 states in four dimensions is used to give closely related proofs of the generalized Kochen-Specker, Kochen-Specker and Bell theorems that shed some light on the relationship between these three theorems.
We give two simple Kochen-Specker arguments for complementary between the position and momentum components of spinless particles, arguments that are identical in structure to those given by Peres and Mermin for spin-1/2 particles.
There are many different definitions of what a Bell-Kochen-Specker proof with POVMs might be. Here we present and discuss the minimal proof on qubits for three of these definitions and show that they are indeed minimal.
A recent claim that finite precision in the design of real experiments ``nullifies'' the impact of the Kochen-Specker theorem, is shown to be unsupportable, because of the continuity of probabilities of measurement outcomes under slight changes in the experimental configuration.
We put forward three simple algorithms to generate Kochen-Specker sets used for parity proof of Kochen-Specker theorem in three-qubit system. These algorithms enables us to generate 320, 640 and 64 Kochen-Specket sets with 36, 38 and 40 rays, respectively. No any computer calculation is required, every step in the algorithms is determined by the method of picking the rays that repeat 4 times in the KS sets.
We introduce and formalize a notion of "a priori knowledge" about a quantum system, and show some properties about this form of knowledge. Finally, we show that the Kochen-Specker theorem follows directly from this study. This version is a draft version, the bibliography in particular is extremely scarce. Comments welcome.
A proof of the Kochen-Specker theorem for a single two-level system is presented. It employs five eight-element positive operator-valued measures and a simple algebraic reasoning based on the geometry of the dodecahedron.
The Kochen-Specker theorem states that noncontextual hidden variable theories are incompatible with quantum mechanics. We provide a state independent proof of the Kochen-Specker theorem using the smallest number of projectors, i.e., thirty rank-2 projectors, associated with the Mermin pentagram for a three-qubit system.
We look at generalisations of sets of vectors proving the Kochen-Specker theorem in 3 and 4 dimensions. It has been shown that two such sets, although unitarily inequivalent, are part of a larger 3-parameter family of vectors that share the same orthogonality graph. We find that these sets are unusual, in that the vectors in all other Kochen-Specker sets investigated here are fully determined by orthogonality conditions and thus admit no free parameters.
It is shown that, given a reasonable continuity assumption regarding possessed values, it is possible to construct a Kochen-Specker obstruction for any coordinate and its conjugate momentum, demonstrating that at most one of these two quantities can have a noncontextual value.
The Kochen-Specker Theorem is widely interpreted to imply that non-contextual hidden variable theories that agree with the predictions of Copenhagen quantum mechanics are impossible. The import of the theorem for a novel observer independent interpretation of quantum mechanics, due to Sorkin, is investigated.
We discuss two new demonstrations of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem: a state-independent proof using 14 four-dimensional propositions, based on a suggestion made by Clifton, and a state-specific proof involving 5 propositions on the singlet state of two spin-1/2 particles.
We present two geometric proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem. A quite similar argument has been used by Cooke, Keane, and Moran, as well as by Kalmbach in her book to derive the Gleason theorem.
One of the recent no-go theorems on Ψ-epistemic interpretations of quantum proves that there are no 'maximally epistemic' interpretations of quantum theory. The proof utilises similar arrangements to Clifton's quantum contextuality proof and has parallels to Harrigan and Rudolph's quantum deficiency no-go theorem, itself based on the Kochen-Specker quantum contextuality proof. This paper shows how the Kochen-Specker theorem can also be turned into a no 'maximally epistemic' theorem, but of a more limited kind.
Quantum contextuality is one of the fundamental notions in quantum mechanics. Proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem and noncontextuality inequalities are two means for revealing the contextuality phenomenon in quantum mechanics. It has been found that some proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem, such as those based on rays, can be converted to a state-independent noncontextuality inequality, but it remains open whether it is true in general, i.e., whether any proof of the Kochen-Specker theorem can always be converted to a noncontextuality inequality. In this paper, we address this issue. We prov…
For a two-particle two-state system, sets of compatible propositions exist for which quantum mechanics and noncontextual hidden-variable theories make conflicting predictions for every individual system whatever its quantum state. This permits a simple all-or-nothing state-independent experimental verification of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem.
A Kochen-Specker contradiction is produced with 36 vectors in a real 8-dimensional Hilbert space. These vectors can be combined into 30 distinct projection operators (14 of rank 2, and 16 of rank 1). A state-specific variant of this contradiction requires only 13 vectors, a remarkably low number for 8 dimensions.
By probabilistic means, the concept of contextuality is extended so that it can be used in non-ideal situations. An inequality is presented, which at least in principle enables a test to discard non-contextual hidden-variable models at low error rates, in the spirit of the Kochen-Specker theorem. Assuming that the errors are independent, an explicit error bound of 1.42% is derived, below which a Kochen-Specker contradiction occurs.
In the paper it is argued that the Kochen-Specker theorem necessitates a conclusion that for a quantum system it is possible to find a set of projection operators which is not truth-value bivalent; that is, a bivalent truth-value assignment function imposed on such a set cannot be total. This means that at least one proposition associated with the said set must be neither true nor false.
A number of new proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem are given based on the observables of the three-qubit Pauli group. Each proof is presented in the form of a diagram from which it is obvious by inspection. Each of our observable-based proofs leads to a system of projectors and bases that generally yields a large number of "parity proofs" of the Kochen-Specker theorem. Some examples of such proofs are given and some of their applications are discussed.
It is proven that any hidden variable theory of the type proposed by Meyer [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 83}, 3751 (1999)], Kent [{\em ibid.} {\bf 83}, 3755 (1999)], and Clifton and Kent [Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A {\bf 456}, 2101 (2000)] leads to experimentally testable predictions that are in contradiction with those of quantum mechanics. Therefore, it is argued that the existence of dense Kochen-Specker-colorable sets must not be interpreted as a nullification of the physical impact of the Kochen-Specker theorem once the finite precision of real measurements is taken into account.
In this talk I present a simple derivation of an old result of Kochen and Specker, which is apparently unrelated to the famous work of Bell on hidden variables, but is presumably equally important. Kochen and Specker showed in 1967 that quantum mechanics cannot be embedded into a classical stochastic theory, provided the quantum theoretical probability distributions are reproduced and one additional highly desirable property is satisfied. This showed in a striking manner what were the difficulties in implementing the Einstein programme of a `complete' version of quantum mechanics.
A simple three rules supplemented by five steps scheme is proposed to produce Kochen-Specker (KS) sets with 30 rank-2 projectors that occur twice each. The KS sets provide state-independent proof of KS theorem based on a system of three qubits. A small adjustment of the scheme enables us to manually generate a large number of KS sets with a mixture of rank-1 and rank-2 projectors.
A diagrammatic representation is given of the 24 rays of Peres that makes it easy to pick out all the 512 parity proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem contained in them. The origin of this representation in the four-dimensional geometry of the rays is pointed out.
We present a ``state-independent'' proof of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem using only 18 four-dimensional vectors, which is a record for this kind of proof. This set of vectors contains subsets which allow us to develop a ``state-specific'' proof with 10 vectors (also a record) and a ``probabilistic'' proof with 7 vectors which reflects the algebraic structure of Hardy's nonlocality theorem.
Yu and Oh [1] have given a state independent proof of the Kochen-Specker theorem in three dimensions using only 13 rays. The proof consists of showing that a non-contextual hidden variable theory necessarily leads to an inequality that is violated by quantum mechanics. We give a similar proof making use of 21 rays that constitute a SIC and four Mutually Unbiased Bases.
Compatibility between the realist tenants of value-definiteness and causality is called into question by several realism impossibility proofs in which their formal elements are shown to conflict. We review how this comes about in the Kochen-Specker and von Neumann proofs and point out a connection between their key assumptions: a constraint on realist causality via additivity in the latter proof, noncontextuality in the former. We conclude that value-definiteness and contextuality are indeed not mutually exclusive.
We present a method to obtain sets of vectors proving the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem in dimension $n$ from a similar set in dimension $d$ ($3\leq d<n\leq 2d$). As an application of the method we find the smallest proofs known in dimension five (29 vectors), six (31) and seven (34), and different sets matching the current record (36) in dimension eight.
In [1] it was shown that the Kochen Specker theorem can be written in terms of the non-existence of global elements of a certain varying set over the partially ordered set of boolean subalgebras of projection operators on some Hilbert space. In this paper, we show how obstructions to the construction of such global elements arise, and how this provides a new way of looking at proofs of the theorem.
Using the spontaneous parametric down-conversion process in a type-I phase matching BBO crystal as single photon source, we perform an all-or-nothing-type Kochen-Specker experiment proposed by Simon \QTR{it}{et al}. [Phys. Rev. Lett. \QTR{bf}{85}, 1783 (2000)] to verify whether noncontextual hidden variables or quantum mechanics is right. The results strongly agree with quantum mechanics.
Unsharp spin 1 observables arise from the fact that a residual uncertainty about the actual orientation of the measurement device remains. If the uncertainty is below a certain level, and if the distribution of measurement errors is covariant under rotations, a Kochen-Specker theorem for the unsharp spin observables follows: There are finite sets of directions such that not all the unsharp spin observables in these directions can consistently be assigned approximate truth-values in a non-contextual way.
It is pointed out that the 60 complex rays in four dimensions associated with a system of two qubits yield over 10^9 critical parity proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem. The geometrical properties of the rays are described, an overview of the parity proofs contained in them is given, and examples of some of the proofs are exhibited.
The Kochen-Specker theorem shows the impossibility for a hidden variable theory to consistently assign values to certain (finite) sets of observables in a way that is non-contextual and consistent with quantum mechanics. If we require non-contextuality, the consequence is that many observables must not have pre-existing definite values. However, the Kochen-Specker theorem does not allow one to determine which observables must be value indefinite. In this paper we present an improvement on the Kochen-Specker theorem which allows one to actually locate observables which are provably value indefi…
Kochen and Specker's theorem can be seen as a consequence of Gleason's theorem and logical compactness. Similar compactness arguments lead to stronger results about finite sets of rays in Hilbert space, which we also prove by a direct construction. Finally, we demonstrate that Gleason's theorem itself has a constructive proof, based on a generic, finite, effectively generated set of rays, on which every quantum state can be approximated.
The Kochen-Specker theorem theoretically shows evidence of the incompatibility of noncontextual hidden variable theories with quantum mechanics. Quantum contextuality is a more general concept than quantum non-locality which is quite well tested in experiments by using Bell inequalities. Within neutron interferometry we performed an experimental test of the Kochen-Specker theorem with an inequality, which identifies quantum contextuality, by using spin-path entanglement in a single neutron system. Here entanglement is achieved not between different particles, but between degrees of freedom, i.…
We extend the topos-theoretic treatment given in previous papers of assigning values to quantities in quantum theory, and of related issues such as the Kochen-Specker theorem. This extension has two main parts: the use of von Neumann algebras as a base category (Section 2); and the relation of our generalized valuations to (i) the assignment to quantities of intervals of real numbers, and (ii) the idea of a subobject of the coarse-graining presheaf (Section 3).
We present an experimental scheme for the implementation of arbitrary generalized measurements, represented by positive-operator valued measures, on the polarization of single photons, using linear optical devices. Further, we experimentally test a Kochen-Specker theorem for single qubits using positive operator-valued measures. Our experimental results for the first time disprove non-contextual hidden-variable theories, even for single qubits.
In a recent work, it was shown by one of us (EGC) that Bell-Kochen-Specker inequality violations in phenomena satisfying the no-disturbance condition (a generalisation of the no-signalling condition) cannot in general be explained with a faithful classical causal model -- that is, a classical causal model that satisfies the assumption of no fine-tuning. The proof of that claim however was restricted to Bell scenarios involving 2 parties or Kochen-Specker-contextuality scenarios involving 2 measurements per context. Here we show that the result holds in the general case of arbitrary numbers of …
If noncontextuality is defined as the robustness of a system's response to a measurement against other simultaneous measurements, then the Kochen-Specker arguments do not provide an algebraic proof for quantum contextuality. Namely, for the argument to be effective, (i) each operator must be uniquely associated with a measurement and (ii) commuting operators must represent simultaneous measurements. However, in all Kochen-Specker arguments discussed in the literature either (i) or (ii) is not met. Arguments meeting (i) contain at least one subset of mutually commuting operators which do not re…
Quantum cryptographic protocols based on complementarity are nonsecure against attacks in which complementarity is imitated with classical resources. The Kochen-Specker (KS) theorem provides protection against these attacks, without requiring entanglement or spatially separated composite systems. We analyze the maximum tolerated noise to guarantee the security of a KS-protected cryptographic scheme against these attacks, and describe a photonic realization of this scheme using hybrid ququarts defined by the polarization and orbital angular momentum of single photons.
Hidden variables theories for quantum mechanics are usually assumed to satisfy the KS condition. The Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem then shows that these theories are necessarily contextual. But the KS condition can be criticized from an operational viewpoint, which suggests that a weaker condition (MGP) should be adopted in place of it. This leads one to introduce a class of hidden parameters theories in which contextuality can, in principle, be avoided, since the proofs of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem break down. A simple model recently provided by the author for an objective interpretation …
Contextuality provides one of the fundamental characterizations of quantum phenomena, and can be used as a resource in lots of quantum information processing. In this paper, we summarize and derive some equivalent noncontextual inequalities from different noncontextual models of the proofs for Kochen-Specker theorem based on Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states. These noncontextual inequalities are equivalent up to some correlation items which hold both for noncontextual hidden variable theories and quantum mechanics. Therefore, using single-photon hyperentangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger stat…
Unsharp spin observables are shown to arise from the fact that a residual uncertainty about the actual alignment of the measurement device remains. If the uncertainty is below a certain level, and if the distribution misalignments is covariant under rotations, a Kochen-Specker theorem for the unsharp spin observables follows: There are finite sets of directions such that not all the unsharp spin observables in these directions can consistently be assigned approximate truth-values in a non-contextual way.
Certain concrete "ontological models" for quantum mechanics (models in which measurement outcomes are deterministic and quantum states are equivalent to classical probability distributions over some space of `hidden variables') are examined. The models are generalizations of Kochen and Specker's such model for a single 2-dimensional system - in particular a model for a three dimensional quantum system is considered in detail. Unfortunately, it appears the models do not quite reproduce the quantum mechanical statistics. They do, however, come close to doing so, and in as much as they simply inv…
A generalized Kochen-Specker theorem is proved. It is shown that there exist sets of $n$ projection operators, representing $n$ yes-no questions about a quantum system, such that none of the $2^n$ possible answers is compatible with sum rules imposed by quantum mechanics. Namely, if a subset of commuting projection operators sums up to a matrix having only even or only odd eigenvalues, the number of ``yes'' answers ought to be even or odd, respectively. This requirement may lead to contradictions. An example is provided, involving nine projection operators in a 4-dimensional space.
We show that a reduced form of the structural requirements for deterministic hidden variables used in Bell-Kochen-Specker theorems is already sufficient for the no-go results. Those requirements are captured by the following principle: an observable takes a spectral value x if and only if the spectral projector associated with x takes the value 1. We show that the only if part of this condition suffices. The proof identifies an important structural feature behind the no-go results; namely, if at least one projector is assigned the value 1 in any resolution of the identity, then at most one is.
We present a simple experimental scheme which can be used to demonstrate an all-or-nothing type contradiction between non-contextual hidden variables and quantum mechanics. The scheme, which is inspired by recent ideas by Cabello and Garcia-Alcaine, shows that even for a single particle, path and spin information cannot be predetermined in a non-contextual way.
I review the two theorems referred to in the title, and then suggest that it would be interesting to know how much of Hilbert space one can use without forcing the proof of these theorems. It would also be interesting to know what parts of Hilbert space that are essential for the proofs. I go on to discuss cubes, graphs, and pentagrams.
We describe an explicitly non-contextual statistical model of hidden variables for the qutrit, which fully reproduces the predictions of quantum mechanics and, thus, bypasses the constraints imposed by the Kochen-Specker theorem and its subsequent reformulations. We notice that these renowned theorems crucially rely on the implicitly assumed existence of an absolute frame of reference with respect to which physically indistinguishable tests related by spurious gauge transformations can supposedly be assigned well-defined distinct identities. We observe that the existence of such an absolute fr…
In this paper we attempt to physically interpret the Modal Kochen- Specker (MKS) theorem. In order to do so, we analyze the features of the possible properties of quantum systems arising from the elements in an orthomodular lattice and distinguish the use of "possibility" in the classical and quantum formalisms. Taking into account the modal and many worlds non-collapse interpretation of the projection postulate, we discuss how the MKS theorem rules the constraints to actualization, and thus, the relation between actual and possible realms.
A suggestion for an observational test of the difference between quantum mechanics and noncontextual hidden variables theories requires the measurement of a product of two commuting observables without measuring either observable separately. A proposal has been made for doing this, but it is shown to be problematic.
Kochen-Specker (KS) sets are key tools for proving some fundamental results in quantum theory and also have potential applications in quantum information processing. However, so far, their intrinsic complexity has prevented experimentalists from using them for any application. The KS set requiring the smallest number of contexts has been recently found. Relying on this simple KS set, here we report an input state-independent experimental technique to certify whether a set of measurements is actually accessing a preestablished quantum six-dimensional space encoded in the transverse momentum of …
We discuss two approaches to producing generalized parity proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem. Such proofs use contexts of observables whose product is $I$ or $-I$; we call them constraints. In the first approach, one starts with a fixed set of constraints and methods of linear algebra are used to produce subsets that are generalized parity proofs. Coding theory methods are used for enumeration of the proofs by size. In the second approach, one starts with the combinatorial structure of the set of constraints and one looks for ways to suitably populate this structure with observables. As well…
In this paper we attempt to discuss what has Kochen-Specker (KS) theorem to say about physical invariance and quantum individuality. In particular, we will discuss the impossibility of making reference to objective physical properties within the orthodox formalism of quantum mechanics. Through an analysis of the meaning of physical invariance and quantum contextuality we will derive a Corollary to KS theorem that proves that a vector in Hilbert space cannot be interpreted coherently as an object possessing (objective) physical properties. As a consequence, the notion of quantum object can be o…
