Causality and Nonlocality as Axioms for Quantum Mechanics
Sandu Popescu, Daniel Rohrlich
备注：
9 pages, RevTeX; for the proceedings of the symposium on Causality and Locality in Modern Physics and Astronomy: Open Questions and Possible Solutions (York University, Toronto, August 25-29, 1997). This version contains an additional affiliation and address for one author
Quantum mechanics permits nonlocality - both nonlocal correlations and nonlocal equations of motion - while respecting relativistic causality. Is quantum mechanics the unique theory that reconciles nonlocality and causality? We consider two models, going beyond quantum mechanics, of nonlocality: "superquantum" correlations, and nonlocal "jamming" of correlations. These models are consistent with some definitions of nonlocality and causality.
Quantum mechanics and relativistic causality together imply nonlocality: nonlocal correlations (that violate the CHSH inequality) and nonlocal equations of motion (the Aharonov-Bohm effect). Can we invert the logical order? We consider a conjecture that nonlocality and relativistic causality together imply quantum mechanics. We show that correlations preserving relativistic causality can violate the CHSH inequality more strongly than quantum correlations. Also, we describe nonlocal equations of motion, preserving relativistic causality, that do not arise in quantum mechanics. In these nonlocal…
We investigate the nonlocal dynamics of a single particle placed in an infinite well with moving walls. It is shown that in this situation, the Schrödinger equation (SE) violates local causality by causing instantaneous changes in the probability current everywhere inside the well. This violation is formalized by designing a gedanken faster-than-light communication device which uses an ensemble of long narrow cavities and weak measurements to resolve the weak value of the momentum far away from the movable wall. Our system is free from the usual features causing nonphysical violations of local…
The quantum nonlocality is limited by relativistic causality, however, the reason is not fully understood yet. The relativistic causality condition on nonlocal correlations has been usually accepted as a prohibition of faster-than-light signaling, called no-signaling condition. We propose another causality condition from the observation that space-like separate events should have no causal relationship. It is proved that the new condition is stronger than no-signaling condition for a pair of binary devices. We derive the standard probability assignment rule, so-called Born rule, on quantum mea…
The principle of non-violation of "information causality", has been proposed as one of the foundational properties of nature\cite{nature}. The main goal of the paper is to explore the gap between quantum mechanical correlations and those allowed by "information causality" in the context of local randomness by using Cabello's nonlocality argument. This is interesting because the gap is slightly different than in the context of Hardy's similar nonlocality argument\cite{gazi}
Recently,the principle of nonviolation of information causality [Nature 461,1101 (2009)], has been proposed as one of the foundational properties of nature. We explore the Hardy's nonlocality theorem for two qubit systems, in the context of generalised probability theory, restricted by the principle of nonviolation of information causality. Applying, a sufficient condition for information causality violation, we derive an upper bound on the maximum success probability of Hardy's nonlocality argument. We find that the bound achieved here is higher than that allowed by quantum mechanics,but stil…
Motivated by Popescu's example of hidden nonlocality, we elaborate on the conjecture that quantum states that are intuitively nonlocal, i.e., entangled, do not admit a local causal hidden variables model. We exhibit quantum states which either (i) are nontrivial counterexamples to this conjecture or (ii) possess a new kind of more deeply hidden irreducible nonlocality. Moreover, we propose a nonlocality complexity classification scheme suggested by the latter possibility. Furthermore, we show that Werner's (and similar) hidden variables models can be extended to an important class of generaliz…
Quantum mechanics permits nonlocality---both nonlocal correlations and nonlocal equations of motion---while respecting relativistic causality. Is quantum mechanics the unique theory that reconciles nonlocality and causality? We consider two models, going beyond quantum mechanics, of nonlocality---``superquantum" correlations, and nonlocal ``jamming" of correlations---and derive new results for the jamming model. In one space dimension, jamming allows reversal of the sequence of cause and effect; in higher dimensions, however, effect never precedes cause.
We present a unified axiomatic approach to contextuality and non-locality based on the fact that both are resource theories. In those theories the main objects are consistent boxes, which can be transformed by certain operations to achieve certain tasks. The amount of resource is quantified by appropriate measures of the resource. Following recent paper [J.I. de Vicente, J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. {\bf 47}, 424017 (2014)], and recent development of abstract approach to resource theories, such as entanglement theory, we propose axioms and welcome properties for operations and measures of resource…
In 1964, John Bell proved that quantum mechanics is "unreasonable" (to use Einstein's term): there are nonlocal bipartite quantum correlations. But they are not the most nonlocal bipartite correlations consistent with relativistic causality ("no superluminal signalling"): also maximally nonlocal "superquantum" (or "PR-box") correlations are consistent with relativistic causality. I show that---unlike quantum correlations---these correlations do not have a classical limit consistent with relativistic causality. The generalization of this result to all stronger-than-quantum nonlocal correlations…
The axioms of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics lack clear physical meaning. In particular, they say nothing about nonlocality. Yet quantum mechanics is not only nonlocal, it is twice nonlocal: there are nonlocal quantum correlations, and there is the Aharonov-Bohm effect, which implies that an electric or magnetic field h e r e may act on an electron t h e r e. Can we invert the logical hierarchy? That is, can we adopt nonlocality as an axiom for quantum mechanics and derive quantum mechanics from this axiom and an additional axiom of causality? Three versions of these two axioms lead to thre…
Superquantum ("PR-box") correlations, though designed to respect relativistic causality, violate relativistic causality in the classical limit. Generalizing to all stronger-than-quantum bipartite correlations, I derive Tsirelson's bound from the axioms of nonlocality, relativistic causality and the existence of a classical limit. This derivation of Tsirelson's bound does not assume quantum mechanics yet suggests how Hilbert space is implicit in quantum correlations.
Information causality states that the information obtainable by a receiver cannot be greater than the communication bits from a sender, even if they utilize no-signaling resources. This physical principle successfully explains some boundaries between quantum and post-quantum nonlocal correlations, where the obtainable information reaches the maximum limit. We show that no-signaling resources of pure partially entangled states produce randomness (or noise) in the communication bits, and achievement of the maximum limit is impossible, i.e., the information causality principle is insufficient for…
We review some of our experiments performed over the past few years on two-photon interference. These include a test of Bell's inequalities, a study of the complementarity principle, an application of EPR correlations for dispersion-free time-measurements, and an experiment to demonstrate the superluminal nature of the tunneling process. The nonlocal character of the quantum world is brought out clearly by these experiments. As we explain, however, quantum nonlocality is not inconsistent with Einstein causality.
In studies of entanglement, finding out if a state is entangled and quantifying the amount of entanglement contained in a state are related but different questions. Similarly in studies of causality, finding out the causal structures compatible with a model and quantifying the causal strengths are related but different questions. Recently much research have been directed towards the first question but considerably less attention is paid to the second one. In this paper we propose axioms for all reasonable quantitative measures of causality to obey. The axioms apply to a broad family of operati…
Quantum $n$-body correlations cannot be explained with $(n-1)$-body nonlocality. However, this genuine $n$-body nonlocality cannot surpass certain bounds. Here we address the problem of identifying the principles responsible for these bounds. We show that, for any $n \ge 2$, the exclusivity principle, as derived from axioms about sharp measurements, and a technical assumption give the exact bounds predicted by quantum theory. This provides a unified explanation of the bounds of single-body contextuality and $n$-body nonlocality, and connects two programs towards understanding quantum theory.
A physical explanation for quantum bounds to nonlocality (Tsirelson's bound) is a fundamental problem that remains open, and one approach to explaining its origins is the so-called Exclusivity principle, relying on probabilistic assumptions shaping general probabilistic theories through sharp measurements and compatible (non-local) measurements. Information indistinguishability, presented here as indistinguishability of qubits and more general bits, may serve as an answer to the nonlocality conundrum, ultimately placing it as the origin to quantum limits. We connect indistinguishability to the…
The method of transfer functions is developed as a tool for studying Bell inequalities, alternative quantum theories and the associated physical properties of quantum systems. Non-negative probabilities for transfer functions result in Bell-type inequalities. The method is used to show that all realistic Lorentz-invariant quantum theories, which give unique results and have no preferred frame, can be ruled out on the grounds that they lead to weak backward causality.
We show that arbitrary functions of continuous variables, e.g. position and momentum, can be used to generate tests that distinguish quantum theory from local hidden variable theories. By optimising these functions, we obtain more robust violations of local causality than obtained previously. We analytically calculate the optimal function and include the effect of nonideal detectors and noise, revealing that optimized functional inequalities are resistant to standard forms of decoherence. These inequalities could allow a loophole-free Bell test with efficient homodyne detection.
Nonlocality and contextuality are at the root of conceptual puzzles in quantum mechanics, and are key resources for quantum advantage in information-processing tasks. Bell nonlocality is best understood as the incompatibility between quantum correlations and the classical theory of causality, applied to relativistic causal structure. Contextuality, on the other hand, is on a more controversial foundation. In this work, I provide a common conceptual ground between nonlocality and contextuality as violations of classical causality. First, I show that Bell inequalities can be derived solely from …
Via nonlocality distillation, a number of copies of a given nonlocal correlation can be turned into a new correlation displaying a higher degree of nonlocality. Apart from its clear relevance in situations where nonlocality is a resource, distillation protocols also play an important role in the understanding of information-theoretical principles for quantum theory. Here, we derive a necessary condition for nonlocality distillation from two copies and apply it, among other results, to show that $1$D and $2$D quantum voids --faces of the nonlocal simplex set with no quantum realization-- can be…
The entanglement and the violation of Bell and CHSH inequalities in spin polarization correlation experiments (SPCE) is considered to be one of the biggest mysteries of Nature and is called quantum nonlocality. In this paper we show once again that this conclusion is based on imprecise terminology and on the lack of understanding of probabilistic models used in various proofs of Bell and CHSH theorems. These models are inconsistent with experimental protocols used in SPCE. This is the only reason why Bell and CHSH inequalities are violated. A probabilistic non-signalling description of SPCE, c…
Between 1964 and 1990, the notion of nonlocality in Bell's papers underwent a profound change as his nonlocality theorem gradually became detached from quantum mechanics, and referred to wider probabilistic theories involving correlations between separated beables. The proposition that standard quantum mechanics is itself nonlocal (more precisely, that it violates `local causality') became divorced from the Bell theorem per se from 1976 on, although this important point is widely overlooked in the literature. In 1990, the year of his death, Bell would express serious misgivings about the mathe…
Although quantum mechanics is a very successful theory, its foundations are still a subject of intense debate. One of the main problems is the fact that quantum mechanics is based on abstract mathematical axioms, rather than on physical principles. Quantum information theory has recently provided new ideas from which one could obtain physical axioms constraining the resulting statistics one can obtain in experiments. Information causality and macroscopic locality are two principles recently proposed to solve this problem. However none of them were proven to define the set of correlations one c…
The amount of nonlocality in quantum theory is limited compared to that allowed in generalized no-signaling theory [Found. Phys. 24, 379 (1994)]. This feature, for example, gets manifested in the amount of Bell inequality violation as well as in the degree of success probability of Hardy's (Cabello's) nonlocality argument. Physical principles like information causality and macroscopic locality have been proposed for analyzing restricted nonlocality in quantum mechanics---viz. explaining the Cirel'son bound. However, these principles are not that much successful in explaining the maximum succes…
Bell proved that quantum entanglement enables two space-like separated parties to exhibit classically impossible correlations. Even though these correlations are stronger than anything classically achievable, they cannot be harnessed to make instantaneous (faster than light) communication possible. Yet, Popescu and Rohrlich have shown that even stronger correlations can be defined, under which instantaneous communication remains impossible. This raises the question: Why are the correlations achievable by quantum mechanics not maximal among those that preserve causality? We give a partial answe…
The set of multiparty correlations that respect all bi-partite principles has been conjectured to be same as the set of time-ordered-bi-local correlations. Based on this conjuncture we find the maximum value of success probability of tri-partite Hardy's correlation respecting all bi-partite physical principles. Unlike in quantum mechanics, the no-signaling principle does not reveal any gap in Hardy's maximum success probability for bi-partite and tri-partite system. Information causality principle is shown to be successful in qualitatively revealing this quantum feature and this result is inde…
In a series of interesting papers G. C. Hegerfeldt has shown that quantum systems with positive energy initially localized in a finite region, immediately develop infinite tails. In our paper Hegerfeldt's theorem is analysed using quantum and classical wave packets. We show that Hegerfeldt's conclusion remains valid in classical physics. No violation of Einstein's causality is ever involved. Using only positive frequencies, complex wave packets are constructed which at $t = 0$ are real and finitely localized and which, furthemore, are superpositions of two nonlocal wave packets. The nonlocalit…
The apparent nonlocality of quantum theory has been a persistent concern. Einstein et. al. (1935) and Bell (1964) emphasized the apparent nonlocality arising from entanglement correlations. While some interpretations embrace this nonlocality, modern variations of the Everett-inspired many worlds interpretation try to circumvent it. In this paper, we review Bell's "no-go" theorem and explain how it rests on three axioms, local causality, no superdeterminism, and one world. Although Bell is often taken to have shown that local causality is ruled out by the experimentally confirrmed entanglement …
One of Yakir Aharonov's endlessly captivating physics ideas is the conjecture that two axioms, namely relativistic causality ("no superluminal signalling") and nonlocality, so nearly contradict each other that a unique theory - quantum mechanics - reconciles them. But superquantum (or "PR-box") correlations imply that quantum mechanics is not the most nonlocal theory (in the sense of nonlocal correlations) consistent with relativistic causality. Let us consider supplementing these two axioms with a minimal third axiom: there exists a classical limit in which macroscopic observables commute. Th…
We consider a graph with a single quantum system at each node. The entire compound system evolves in discrete time steps by iterating a global evolution $U$. We require that this global evolution $U$ be unitary, in accordance with quantum theory, and that this global evolution $U$ be causal, in accordance with special relativity. By causal we mean that information can only ever be transmitted at a bounded speed, the speed bound being quite naturally that of one edge of the underlying graph per iteration of $U$. We show that under these conditions the operator $U$ can be implemented locally; i.…
The origin of nonclassicality in quantum mechanics (QM) has been investigated recently by a number of authors with a view to identifying axioms that would single out quantum mechanics as a special theory within a broader framework such as convex operational theories. In these studies, the axioms tend to be logically independent in the sense that no specific ordering of the axioms is implied. Here, we identify a hierarchy of five nonclassical features that separate QM from a classical theory: (Q1) Incompatibility and indeterminism; (Q2) Contextuality; (Q3) Entanglement; (Q4) Nonlocality and (Q5…
Quantum causality violates classical intuitions of cause and effect and is a unique quantum feature different from other quantum phenomena such as entanglement and quantum nonlocality. In order to avoid the detection loophole in quantum causality, we initiate the study of the detection efficiency requirement for observing quantum causality. We first show that previous classical causal inequalities require detection efficiency at least 95.97% (89.44%) to show violation with quantum (nonsignaling) correlations. Next we derive a classical causal inequality I_{222} and show that it requires lower …
In a recent note, Hance and Hossenfelder (arXiv:2211.01331) recall that "locally causal completions of quantum mechanics are possible, if they violate the assumption [called statistical independence or measurement independence] that the hidden variables do not in any way depend on measurement settings" and that, consequently, the experimental violations of Bell inequalities "show that maintaining local causality requires violating statistical independence". However, Hance and Hossenfelder also argue that "we should (...) look for independent experimental evidence that can distinguish the two d…
Relativistic causality, namely, the impossibility of signaling at superluminal speeds, restricts the kinds of correlations which can occur between different parts of a composite physical system. Here we establish the basic restrictions which relativistic causality imposes on the joint probabilities involved in an experiment of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bohm type. Quantum mechanics, on the other hand, places further restrictions beyond those required by general considerations like causality and consistency. We illustrate this fact by considering the sum of correlations involved in the CHSH in…
In a Bell test, the set of observed probability distributions complying with the principle of local realism is fully characterized by Bell inequalities. Quantum theory allows for a violation of these inequalities, which is famously regarded as Bell nonlocality. However, finding the maximal degree of this violation is, in general, an undecidable problem. Consequently, no algorithm can be used to derive quantum analogs of Bell inequalities, which would characterize the set of probability distributions allowed by quantum theory. Here we present a family of inequalities, which approximate the set …
Many useful concepts for a quantum theory of scattering and decay (like Lippmann-Schwinger kets, purely outgoing boundary conditions, exponentially decaying Gamow vectors, causality) are not well defined in the mathematical frame set by the conventional (Hilbert space) axioms of quantum mechanics. Using the Lippmann-Schwinger equations as the takeoff point and aiming for a theory that unites resonances and decay, we conjecture a new axiom for quantum mechanics that distinguishes mathematically between prepared states and detected observables. Suggested by the two signs $\pm iε$ of the Lippmann…
A real two-particle experiment is proposed in which one of the particles undergoes two successive impacts on beam-splitters. It is shown that the standard quantum mechanical superposition principle implies the possibility of influences acting backward in time ("retrocausation"), in striking contrast with the principle of causality. It is argued that nonlocality and retrocausation are not necessarily entangled.
In Ref. [1] one of the authors proposed postulates for axiomatizing Quantum Mechanics as a "fair operational framework", namely regarding the theory as a set of rules that allow the experimenter to predict future events on the basis of suitable tests, having local control and low experimental complexity. In addition to causality, the following postulates have been considered: PFAITH (existence of a pure preparationally faithful state), and FAITHE (existence of a faithful effect). These postulates have exhibited an unexpected theoretical power, excluding all known nonquantum probabilistic theor…
Bell's [Physics 1 (1964) 195-200] theorem is popularly supposed to establish the nonlocality of quantum physics. Violation of Bell's inequality in experiments such as that of Aspect, Dalibard and Roger [Phys. Rev. Lett. 49 (1982) 1804-1807] provides empirical proof of nonlocality in the real world. This paper reviews recent work on Bell's theorem, linking it to issues in causality as understood by statisticians. The paper starts with a proof of a strong, finite sample, version of Bell's inequality and thereby also of Bell's theorem, which states that quantum theory is incompatible with the con…
Shaping causality: programmable nonlocal signal generation in long-range spin systems
Tulane University（杜兰大学）；University of Florence（佛罗伦萨大学）；European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS)（欧洲非线性光谱学实验室）；Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Sezione di Firenze（意大利国家核物理研究所佛罗伦萨分部）；Catholic University of the Sacred Heart（圣心天主教大学）；INFN, Sezione di Milano（意大利国家核物理研究所米兰分部）
It is known that "quantum non locality", leading to the violation of Bell's inequality and more generally of classical local realism, can be attributed to the conjunction of two properties, that we call here elementary locality and predictive completeness. Taking this point of view, we show again that quantum mechanics violates predictive completeness, allowing to make contextual inferences, which can in turn explain why quantum non locality does not contradict relativistic causality. But if the usual quantum state $ψ$ is predictively incomplete, how to complete it ? We give here a set of new …
Quantum non-local correlations and the acausal, spooky action at a distance suggest a discord between quantum theory and special relativity. We propose a resolution for this discord by first observing that there is a problem of time in quantum theory. There should exist a reformulation of quantum theory which does not refer to classical time. Such a reformulation is obtained by suggesting that space-time is fundamentally non-commutative. Quantum theory without classical time is the equilibrium statistical thermodynamics of the underlying non-commutative relativity. Stochastic fluctuations abou…
The debate on the nature of quantum probabilities in relation to Quantum Non Locality has elevated Quantum Mechanics to the level of an "Operational Epistemic Theory". In such context the quantum superposition principle has an extraneous non epistemic nature. This leads us to seek purely operational foundations for Quantum Mechanics, from which to derive the current mathematical axiomatization based on Hilbert spaces. In the present work I present a set of axioms of purely operational nature, based on a general definition of "the experiment", the operational/epistemic archetype of information …
In this paper, we study the Hardy nonlocal argument (HNA) and the Cabello nonlocal argument (CNA) under the Information Causality, Macroscopic Locality and Local Orthogonality principles in the context of Local Randomness. We see that, in the context of all the possibilities of local randomness, the gap between the quantum mechanics and the above principles, in the Cabello's nonlocality argument is larger than the Hardy's case. Therefore the CNA is stronger control than the HNA for detecting post-quantum nosignalling correlations.
According to the theory of relativity and causality, a special type of correlation beyond quantum mechanics is possible in principle under the name of {\it non-local box}. The concept has been introduced from the principle of non-locality which satisfies relativistic causality. In this paper, we show that a correlation leading to the non-local box is possible to be derived consistently if we release the one of major axioms in quantum mechanics, {\it Born's rule}. This allows us to obtain a theory which in one end of the spectrum agrees with the classical probability and in the other end, agree…
The non-Hermitian but $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric quantum field theories are known to have a pseudo-Hermitian interpretation. However the corresponding intertwining operator happens to be nonlocal that raises the question to what extent this nonlocality affects observable quantities. We consider the case when the intrinsic parity of the interaction terms is determined by degree of coupling constant. We show that the perturbative S-matrix of the equivalent Hermitian description can be easily obtained from the perturbative S-matrix of the non-Hermitian model. Namely, the first order vanishes wherea…
We investigate the concept of entropy in probabilistic theories more general than quantum mechanics, with particular reference to the notion of information causality recently proposed by Pawlowski et. al. (arXiv:0905.2992). We consider two entropic quantities, which we term measurement and mixing entropy. In classical and quantum theory, they are equal, being given by the Shannon and von Neumann entropies respectively; in general, however, they are very different. In particular, while measurement entropy is easily seen to be concave, mixing entropy need not be. In fact, as we show, mixing entr…
