Wigner inequalities for testing the hypothesis of realism and concepts of macroscopic and local realism

N. Nikitin and K. Toms
Phys. Rev. A 100, 062314 – Published 10 December 2019

Abstract

We propose a Wigner-like inequality suitable for testing the hypothesis of realism. We show that this inequality is identical neither to the well-known Wigner inequality nor to the Leggett-Garg inequality in Wigner form. The obtained inequality is suitable for testing realism not only in quantum mechanical systems, but also in quantum field systems. Also we propose a mathematically consistent derivation of the Leggett-Garg inequality in Wigner form, which was recently presented in the literature, for three and n distinct moments of time. Contrary to these works, our rigor derivation uses Kolmogorov axiomatics of probability theory. We pay special attention to the construction and studies of the spaces of elementary outcomes. Based on the Leggett-Garg inequality in Wigner form for n distinct moments of time we prove that any unitary evolution of a quantum system contradicts the concept of macroscopic realism. We show that application of the concept of macroscopic realism to any quantum system leads to “freezing” of the system in the initial state. It is shown that for a particle with an infinite number of observables the probability to find a pair of the observables in some defined state is zero, even if the operators of these observables commute. This fact might serve as an additional logical argument for the contradiction between quantum theory and classical realism.

  • Received 14 August 2018
  • Revised 29 July 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.100.062314

©2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & TechnologyGeneral Physics

Authors & Affiliations

N. Nikitin1,2,3 and K. Toms4

  • 1Department of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
  • 2Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119991, Russia
  • 3Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow 117218, Russia
  • 4Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 100, Iss. 6 — December 2019

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review A

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×