A currently discussed interpretation of quantum theory, Time-Symmetrized Quantum Theory, makes certain claims about the properties of systems between pre- and post- selection measurements. These claims are based on a counterfactual usage of the Aharonov-Bergmann-Lebowitz (ABL) rule for calculating the probabilities of measurement outcomes between such measurements. It has been argued by several authors that the counterfactual usage of the ABL rule is, in general, incorrect. This paper examines what might appear to be a loophole in those arguments and shows that this apparent loophole cannot be used to support a counterfactual interpretation of the ABL rule. It is noted that the invalidity of the counterfactual usage of the ABL rule implies that the characterization of those outcomes receiving probability 1 in a counterfactual application of the rule as `elements of reality' is, in general, unfounded.
I formulate the problem of closing the detection loophole as a constrained optimization problem. Numerical methods can then be used to maximize the detector efficiency subject to the constraint that there exists a local realist explanation for the quantum correlations observed in the EPR experiment in question. Any detector efficiency larger than this maximum rules out all local realist explanations, and hence closes the detection loophole.
It is shown that the detection loophole which arises when trying to rule out local realistic theories as alternatives for quantum mechanics can be closed if the detection efficiency $η$ is larger than $η\geq d^{1/2} 2^{-0.0035d}$ where $d$ is the dimension of the entangled system. Furthermore it is argued that this exponential decrease of the detector efficiency required to close the detection loophole is almost optimal. This argument is based on a close connection that exists between closing the detection loophole and the amount of classical communication required to simulate quantum correlat…
We show that the detection efficiencies required for closing the detection loophole in Bell tests can be significantly lowered using quantum systems of dimension larger than two. We introduce a series of asymmetric Bell tests for which an efficiency arbitrarily close to 1/N can be tolerated using N-dimensional systems, and a symmetric Bell test for which the efficiency can be lowered down to 61.8% using four-dimensional systems. Experimental perspectives for our schemes look promising considering recent progress in atom-photon entanglement and in photon hyperentanglement.
Quantum steering inequalities allow to demonstrate the presence of entanglement between two parties when one of the two measurement device is not trusted. In this paper we show that quantum steering can be demonstrated for arbitrary low detection efficiency by using two-qubit non-maximally entangled states. Our result can have important applications in one-sided device-independent quantum key distribution.
We investigate the problem of closing the detection loophole in multipartite Bell tests, and show that the required detection efficiencies can be significantly lowered compared to the bipartite case. In particular, we present Bell tests based on n-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states, which can tolerate efficiencies as low as 38% for a reasonable number of parties and measurements. Even in the presence of a significant amount of noise, efficiencies below 50% can be tolerated, which is encouraging given recent experimental progress. Finally we give strong evidence that, for a sufficiently l…
An experimental test of Bell's inequality allows ruling out any local-realistic description of nature by measuring correlations between distant systems. While such tests are conceptually simple, there are strict requirements concerning the detection efficiency of the involved measurements, as well as the enforcement of spacelike separation between the measurement events. Only very recently could both loopholes be closed simultaneously. Here we present a statistically significant, event-ready Bell test based on combining heralded entanglement of atoms separated by $398\,\mathrm{m}$ with fast an…
We study the problem of closing the detection loophole in three-qubit Bell tests, the experimentally most relevant case beyond the usual bipartite scenario, and show that the minimal detection efficiencies required can be considerably lowered compared to the two-qubit case. The lowest reported detection efficiency thresholds for two and three qubits so far are $\sim66.7\%$ and $60\%$, respectively. Using the three-qubit W state and a 3-setting Bell inequality, we beat these thresholds and with an 8-setting Bell inequality we reach $50.13\%$. We also investigate generic three-qubit states which…
The problem of closing the detection loophole in Bell tests is investigated in the presence of a limited number of efficient detectors using emblematic multipartite quantum states. To this end, a family of multipartite Bell inequalities is introduced basing on local projective measurements conducted by $N-k$ parties and applying a $k$-party Bell inequality on the remaining parties. Surprisingly, we find that most of the studied pure multipartite states involving e.g. cluster states, the Dicke states, and the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger states can violate our inequalities with only the use of t…
Closing objectivity loophole in Bell tests on a public quantum computer
University of Warsaw（华沙大学）；Departament de Física and Institut d’Aplicacions Computacionals de Codi Comunitari (IAC3)（物理系与通用代码计算应用研究所（IAC3））；CRISP – Centre de Recerca Independent de sa Pobla（萨波布拉独立研究中心（CRISP））；University of Lodz（罗兹大学）；Center for Theoretical Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences（波兰科学院理论物理中心）
Bell's theorem shows that local realistic theories place strong restrictions on observable correlations between different systems, giving rise to Bell's inequality which can be violated in experiments using entangled quantum states. Bell's theorem is based on the assumptions of realism, locality, and the freedom to choose between measurement settings. In experimental tests, "loopholes" arise which allow observed violations to still be explained by local realistic theories. Violating Bell's inequality while simultaneously closing all such loopholes is one of the most significant still open chal…
The problem of closing the detection loophole with asymmetric systems, such as entangled atom-photon pairs, is addressed. We show that, for the Bell inequality I_3322, a minimal detection efficiency of 43% can be tolerated for one of the particles, if the other one is always detected. We also study the influence of noise and discuss the prospects of experimental implementation.
We propose a practical scheme to use photons from causally disconnected cosmic sources to set the detectors in an experimental test of Bell's inequality. In current experiments, with settings determined by quantum random number generators, only a small amount of correlation between detector settings and local hidden variables, established less than a millisecond before each experiment, would suffice to mimic the predictions of quantum mechanics. By setting the detectors using pairs of quasars or patches of the cosmic microwave background, observed violations of Bell's inequality would require …
Tests of the predictions of quantum mechanics for entangled systems have provided increasing evidence against local realistic theories. However, there still remains the crucial challenge of simultaneously closing all major loopholes - the locality, freedom-of-choice, and detection loopholes - in a single experiment. An important sub-class of local realistic theories can be tested with the concept of "steering". The term steering was introduced by Schrödinger in 1935 for the fact that entanglement would seem to allow an experimenter to remotely steer the state of a distant system as in the Eins…
Quantum correlations are critical to our understanding of nature, with far-reaching technological and fundamental impact. These often manifest as violations of Bell's inequalities, bounds derived from the assumptions of locality and realism, concepts integral to classical physics. Many tests of Bell's inequalities have studied pairs of correlated particles; however, the immense interest in multi-particle quantum correlations is driving the experimental frontier to test systems beyond just pairs. All experimental violations of Bell's inequalities to date require supplementary assumptions, openi…
In a recent paper published last october 2015 by B.Hensen et al. [1] and in two companion papers published last december 2015 by B.Hensen et al. [2] and by L. Shalm et al. [3], the authors describe beautiful and complex experiments aimed at testing the theorem of J. Bell (1965) [4] with measurements free of the detection-loophole and the locality loophole that had never been closed unquestionably in a single experiment. According to their authors, each experiment, closing both loopholes, gives conclusive evidence in favor of nonlocality. Here I will argue that this claim may be questionable, a…
It has been shown in earlier works that the vertices of Platonic solids are good measurement choices for tests of EPR-steering using isotropically entangled pairs of qubits. Such measurements are regularly spaced, and measurement diversity is a good feature for making EPR-steering inequalities easier to violate in the presence of experimental imperfections. However, such measurements are provably suboptimal. Here, we develop a method for devising optimal strategies for tests of EPR-steering, in the sense of being most robust to mixture and inefficiency (while still closing the detection loopho…
The violation of Bell inequalities where both detection and locality loopholes are closed is crucial for device independent assessments of quantum information. While of technological nature, the simultaneous closing of both loopholes still remains a challenge. In Nat. Commun. 4:2104(2013), a realistic setup to produce an atom-photon entangled state that could reach a loophole free Bell inequality violation within current experimental technology was proposed. Here we improve the analysis of this proposal by giving an analytical treatment that shows that the state proposed in Nat. Commun. 4:2104…
We discuss the problem of finding the most favorable conditions for closing the detection loophole in a test of local realism with a Bell inequality. For a generic non-maximally entangled two-qubit state and two alternative measurement bases we apply Hardy's proof of non-locality without inequality and derive an Eberhard-like inequality. For an infinity of non-maximally entangled states we find that it is possible to refute local realism by requiring perfect detection efficiency for only one of the two measurements: the test is free from the detection loophole for any value of the detection ef…
Recently, the results of the first experimental test for entangled photons closing the detection loophole (also referred to as the fair sampling loophole) were published (Vienna, 2013). From the theoretical viewpoint the main distinguishing feature of this long-aspired experiment was that the Eberhard inequality was used. Almost simultaneously another experiment closing this loophole was performed (Urbana-Champaign, 2013) and it was based on the Clauser-Horne inequality (for probabilities). The aim of this note is to analyze the mathematical and experimental equivalence of tests based on the E…
A recent experiment presented, for photons, the first violation of a Bell inequality closing the fair-sampling loophole, i.e., without having to assume that the sample of measured photons fairly represents the entire ensemble. In this note, we discuss a detailed quantum mechanical model for the experimental data. Within experimental error the experiment agrees with quantum mechanical prediction. We also discuss the effects of drifting laser intensity and show that it could not have mimicked a violation of the Bell inequality. Therefore, the experiment was immune to the "production-rate loophol…
We begin this thesis by expanding the technique of teleportation simulation, which adds noise to the entangled resource state to mimic channel effects. By introducing classical noise in the communication step, we show it is possible to simulate more than just Pauli channels using teleportation. This new class is characterised, and studied in detail for a particular resource state, leading to a family of simulable channels named "Pauli-Damping channels" whose properties are analysed. Also introduced are a new family of quantum states, "phase Werner" states, whose entanglement properties relate …
Demonstrating a quantum computational speedup is a crucial milestone for near-term quantum technology. Recently, quantum simulation architectures have been proposed that have the potential to show such a quantum advantage, based on commonly made assumptions. The key challenge in the theoretical analysis of this scheme - as of other comparable schemes such as boson sampling - is to lessen the assumptions and close the theoretical loopholes, replacing them by rigorous arguments. In this work, we prove two open conjectures for these architectures for Hamiltonian quantum simulators: Anticoncentrat…
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), which is immune to all detector side-channel attacks, is the most promising solution to the security issues in practical quantum key distribution systems. Though several experimental demonstrations of MDI QKD have been reported, they all make one crucial but not yet verified assumption, that is there are no flaws in state preparation. Such an assumption is unrealistic and security loopholes remain in the source. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first MDI-QKD experiment with state preparation flaws taken into consideration…
We give the complete list of 175 facet Bell inequalities for the case where Alice and Bob each choose their measurements from a set of four binary outcome measurements. For each inequality we compute the maximum quantum violation for qubits, the resistance to noise, and the minimal detection efficiency required for closing the detection loophole with maximally entangled qubit states, in the case where both detectors have the same efficiency (symmetric case).
Violating a Bell Inequality: What to Do When You Lose Your Quantum System
Shanghai Institute for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences (SIMIS)（上海数学与交叉学科研究院）；Research Institute of Intelligent Complex Systems, Fudan University（复旦大学复杂系统研究所）；Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, Tsinghua University（清华大学丘成桐数学科学中心）；Department of Computer Science, University of Pittsburgh（匹兹堡大学计算机科学系）；Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign（伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳-香槟分校电气与计算机工程系）；Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Fudan University（复旦大学数学与交叉科学中心）；Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA)（北京国际数学研究中心）
Any practical realization of entanglement-based quantum communication must be intrinsically secure and able to span long distances avoiding the need of a straight line between the communicating parties. The violation of Bell's inequality offers a method for the certification of quantum links without knowing the inner workings of the devices. Energy-time entanglement quantum communication satisfies all these requirements. However, currently there is a fundamental obstacle with the standard configuration adopted: an intrinsic geometrical loophole that can be exploited to break the security of th…
We investigate the relation between a refined version of Leggett and Garg conditions for macrorealism, namely the no-signaling-in-time (NSIT) conditions, and the quantum mechanical notion of nondisturbance between measurements. We show that all NSIT conditions are satisfied for any state preparation if and only if certain compatibility criteria on the state-update rules relative to the measurements, i.e. quantum instruments, are met. The systematic treatment of NSIT conditions supported by structural results on nondisturbance provides a unified framework for the discussion of the the clumsines…
The reason for recalling this old paper is the ongoing discussion on the attempts of circumventing certain assumptions leading to the Bell theorem (Hess-Philipp, Accardi). If I correctly understand the intentions of these Authors, the idea is to make use of the following logical loophole inherent in the proof of the Bell theorem: Probabilities of counterfactual events A and A' do not have to coincide with actually measured probabilities if measurements of A and A' disturb each other, or for any other fundamental reason cannot be performed simulaneously. It is generally believed that in the con…
Throughout history, every advance in encryption has been defeated by advances in hacking with severe consequences. Quantum cryptography holds the promise to end this battle by offering unconditional security when ideal single-photon sources and detectors are employed. Unfortunately, ideal devices never exist in practice and device imperfections have become the targets of various attacks. By developing up-conversion single-photon detectors with high efficiency and low noise, we build up a measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) system, which is immune to all hacking st…
Quantum key distribution (QKD) can provide unconditional secure communication between two distant parties. Although the significance of QKD is undisputed, its feasibility has been questioned because of certain limitations in the practical application of real-life QKD systems. It is a common belief the lack of perfect single-photon source and the existence of detection loss will handicap the feasibility of QKD by creating security loopholes and distance limitations. The measurement device independent QKD (MDIQKD) with decoy-state method removes the security threats from both the imperfect singl…
