EPR Debate: Nature Agrees with Einstein

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The discussion centers on the EPR debate between Einstein and Bohr regarding the nature of quantum entanglement and measurement. Einstein argues that photons have definite polarizations from creation, while Bohr contends they exist in a superposition until measured. Recent experiments, particularly those related to quantum key distribution (QKD), suggest that the observed correlations align with quantum mechanics predictions, challenging Einstein's views. Participants express skepticism about the interpretations of experimental results, emphasizing the need for higher quantum efficiency in detectors to clarify the debate. Ultimately, the conversation highlights ongoing tensions between classical and quantum interpretations of reality.
  • #121
RandallB said:
The link you provided seems to confirm what I said - That is both
PDC type I and type II produces polarizations that are V or H. Photon pairs might be 1) VV or HH OR 2) VH or HV ; depending on type. But as I said never at any other angle other than 0 or 90 (like a 15 & 15 for a type I).

This is indeed the case (some of the calculations, including mine, made in
the threads here assumed that the angle was arbitrary... )
The angles are fixed and can only be 0 or 90 degrees. An indication is
also the eia value as a result of the birefringent nature of the

\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} ( |H\rangle_A|V\rangle_B + e^{i\alpha}|V\rangle_A|H\rangle_B )

crystal which causes a different speed for H and V photons. This
value is fixed and is normally corrected with an additional birefringent
phase shifter.


Regards, Hans.

[1] Generation of correlated photon pairs in type-II
--- parametric down conversion – revisited
--- http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/publ/achtbild.pdf

[2] Thesis. Jian-Wei Pan (see chapter 2.3)
--- http://www.quantum.univie.ac.at/publications/thesis/jwpdiss.pdf
 
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  • #122
RandallB said:
No to what?
The link you provided seems to confirm what I said - That is both
PDC type I and type II produces polarizations that are V or H. Photon pairs might be 1) VV or HH OR 2) VH or HV ; depending on type. But as I said never at any other angle other than 0 or 90 (like a 15 & 15 for a type I).

BTW Thanks for confirming I understood correctly in calling Type II as the one making perpendicular pairs.

Maybe you miss-understood what I'd said?

Well sure, TESTER "knows" the photon will be 'either' H 'or' V but it is unknown what it could be till it is tested. More than unknown, from a QM view it is "Undetermined".

There is no such photon state as you describe. A photon cannot be polarized either H or V (unknown and definite) and still be at 0 or 90 degrees. If you don't know, you don't know. Once you do know, you know.

To say it a different way... There is nothing special about 0 and 90 degrees. So there is no angle at which you can set a second set of polarizers and get any different correlation results. You are just as free to call any results as H and V. As always in all EPR tests, it is the angle between the 2 measuring polarizers that controls correlation results and nothing else.
 
  • #123
DrChinese said:
As always in all EPR tests, it is the angle between the 2 measuring polarizers that controls correlation results and nothing else.
This is exactly what I’d said before and you’d corrected me on!
Are you changing your mind or making a point incorrectly?

Based on you statement in BOLD : Starting with “2 measuring polarizers” one at 0 the other at 90 & Type II entangled photons And getting 100% correlation.
Then adjusting the “2 measuring polarizers” to -45 and +45 degrees, without making any other changes, rerunning the test!

I had thought I’d still get 100% correlation with such a rerun test, then you’d corrected me since there is no “Random 360 degree effect”, and now also confirmed Hans as well. The result should now be 50 % correlation.

BUT, now you claim that it is “the angle between the 2 measuring polarizers that controls correlation results and nothing else”!
Since that angle between them has not changed the result should stay at 100% correlation. As the realignment to diagonals or any angle is part of the "nothing else" that doesn’t matter.

So which is it? – your statement above is correct and the photon coming in can be expected to have ANY polarization angle. (Randomly through 360).

OR your above statement is wrong. And the photon coming in can only be expected to have one of two polarization angles 0 or 90 degrees? Thus while maintaining the angle between the 2 measuring polarizers, their alignment will greatly affect the correlation.
 
  • #124
RandallB said:
This is exactly what I’d said before and you’d corrected me on!
Are you changing your mind or making a point incorrectly?

Based on you statement in BOLD : Starting with “2 measuring polarizers” one at 0 the other at 90 & Type II entangled photons And getting 100% correlation.
Then adjusting the “2 measuring polarizers” to -45 and +45 degrees, without making any other changes, rerunning the test!

I had thought I’d still get 100% correlation with such a rerun test, then you’d corrected me since there is no “Random 360 degree effect”, and now also confirmed Hans as well. The result should now be 50 % correlation.

BUT, now you claim that it is “the angle between the 2 measuring polarizers that controls correlation results and nothing else”!
Since that angle between them has not changed the result should stay at 100% correlation. As the realignment to diagonals or any angle is part of the "nothing else" that doesn’t matter.

So which is it? – your statement above is correct and the photon coming in can be expected to have ANY polarization angle. (Randomly through 360).

OR your above statement is wrong. And the photon coming in can only be expected to have one of two polarization angles 0 or 90 degrees? Thus while maintaining the angle between the 2 measuring polarizers, their alignment will greatly affect the correlation.

Sorry if my words were not clear. I don't think we are particularly far apart, and I probably have over-emphasized some minor nuances.

You will get the same kind of results as long as the two polarizers are 90 degrees apart. The polarizers can be rotated through 360 degrees and that will still be true. The coincidence rate is 100% (ideal case).

We can talk about H or V relative to a polarizer set at any angle. The only point I intended to make about the 360 degree deal was that the photons themselves do not have polarizations at all in-between angles. It is the polarizers that "control" that element.
 
  • #125
DrChinese said:
2. Yes 100% is the QM prediction for 0 degrees. But there is no such thing as the "the base original angle for each set of pairs is random though 360 degrees" as you state. This is a classical picture and is inconsistent with observation.
From your post 113
So your revising your statement above - When observer A sees a photon pass though, no information is gained as to what the polarization was prior to passing the A's filter. The presenting angle could have been any random (through 360) unknown angle not just H or V.

For example if the photon passes and is detected byA. A only knows what the polarization is after passing. Assuming the result of the initial interaction with the filter was a photon at a 45 degree diagonal with only a 50% chance of passing and it did pass. But having passed, A now knows that the in test area B is a similar diagonal photon with a 50% chance of passing. However A also knows that (regardless of the 50-50 chance of passing in area B) that it will pass or has already passed. Neither A nor B will ever know what that polarization angle on interaction was. Nor will they know, based on that pre-filter angle how remote the chance (lucky) the passing was. Only that they, A and B, will have the same “luck” such that 100% correlation is seen.

And the best theory we have to explain them having the same “luck” is QM entanglement.
 
  • #126
RandallB said:
From your post 113
1. So your revising your statement above - When observer A sees a photon pass though, no information is gained as to what the polarization was prior to passing the A's filter. The presenting angle could have been any random (through 360) unknown angle not just H or V.

2. For example if the photon passes and is detected byA. A only knows what the polarization is after passing. Assuming the result of the initial interaction with the filter was a photon at a 45 degree diagonal with only a 50% chance of passing and it did pass. But having passed, A now knows that the in test area B is a similar diagonal photon with a 50% chance of passing. However A also knows that (regardless of the 50-50 chance of passing in area B) that it will pass or has already passed. Neither A nor B will ever know what that polarization angle on interaction was.

3. Nor will they know, based on that pre-filter angle how remote the chance (lucky) the passing was. Only that they, A and B, will have the same “luck” such that 100% correlation is seen.

4. And the best theory we have to explain them having the same “luck” is QM entanglement.

1. Not revising anything, but I am sure it could appear that way. As I said, my words may have fallen short. However, it is the idea that the photons had a definite polarization prior to being measured that I am questioning.

2. Not sure we are saying the same thing, so I will try to describe it:

-PDC type II pair creation. Ideal case.
-Entangled photon a passes through polarizer A set at 45 degrees, witnessed by observer AA.
-Entangled photon b passes through polarizer B set at -45 degrees, witnessed by observer BB.
-AA and BB individually see random patterns of + (hit) and - (misses).
-A 50-50 split of + and - will result.
-When AA sees +, BB also will see +.
-When AA sees -, BB also will see -.
-And vice versa. So there is 100% correlation.

As best as I can tell, we agree on this.

3. Not sure what you mean by "pre-filter" angle. It there is a pre-filter angle (which is subject to philosophical debate), it is limited to 4 possibilities:

Parallel to A.
Perpendicular to A.
Parallel to B.
Perpendicular to B.

These are the only possibilities consistent with experiment and Bell's Theorem. Note that I am not asserting these are actual and real, just that they could be. Nor am I asserting I understand how these 4 angles could be the result from the mechanics of the setup, or in fact that anyone understands this.

4. Yes, QM makes the prediction. It is probabilistic in that sense.
 
  • #127
DrChinese said:
#3. Not sure what you mean by "pre-filter" angle. It there is a pre-filter angle (which is subject to philosophical debate), it is limited to 4 possibilities:

Parallel to A.
Perpendicular to A.
Parallel to B.
Perpendicular to B.

These are the only possibilities consistent with experiment and Bell's Theorem. Note that I am not asserting these are actual and real, just that they could be. Nor am I asserting I understand how these 4 angles could be the result from the mechanics of the setup, or in fact that anyone understands this.
I think #3 here is where we have the most problem
Best review by looking at just a little of the mechanics in:
http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/spectrum.html

In the graphic of the cones of light coming from the converter, we can see the points light is picked up from to filter and feed into fiber 1 and fiber 2.
If we go to points above any of the intersection points in the top circles to pick up light - we will call them PH.
And likewise below in the bottom circles of the cones of light calling light from that area PV.
Testing of just the light from points in PH for polarization would reveal light from that area is always Horizontal or aligned at 90 degrees.
And light from points in the PV area would always test for polarization as Vertical or aligned at 0 degrees.
Rotating our test off that alingment would decrease the light passed till reaching non passing at 90 degrees out of alignment for this very simple test. (Where if the polarization alignment was random though 360 degrees for PV and PH this test would always show a 50% passage of light as each is tested individually).

Thus when carefully picking out light at the intersection points you can only know that it is not any other angle than H or V. But which one of ether 0 or 90 cannot be known until tested.
Is this a correct interpretation of your #3 above and the graphic.


Also in the link you had originally provided:
[PLAIN]http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/entangle.html[/URL]
The graph of results does not make sense to me unless the scale of the bottom alignment angles is doubled for the Blue line. And for the Red line the scale doubled and 22.5 subtracted. Otherwise they results seem to indicate 100 correlation with only a 45 degree separation between to two observers.
Have they posted there data poorly, or is there something I'm missing??
 
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  • #128
RandallB said:
1. I think #3 here is where we have the most problem
Best review by looking at just a little of the mechanics in:
http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/spectrum.html

In the graphic of the cones of light coming from the converter, we can see the points light is picked up from to filter and feed into fiber 1 and fiber 2.
If we go to points above any of the intersection points in the top circles to pick up light - we will call them PH.
And likewise below in the bottom circles of the cones of light calling light from that area PV.
Testing of just the light from points in PH for polarization would reveal light from that area is always Horizontal or aligned at 90 degrees.
And light from points in the PV area would always test for polarization as Vertical or aligned at 0 degrees.
Rotating our test off that alingment would decrease the light passed till reaching non passing at 90 degrees out of alignment for this very simple test. (Where if the polarization alignment was random though 360 degrees for PV and PH this test would always show a 50% passage of light as each is tested individually).

Thus when carefully picking out light at the intersection points you can only know that it is not any other angle than H or V. But which one of ether 0 or 90 cannot be known until tested.
Is this a correct interpretation of your #3 above and the graphic.


2. Also in the link you had originally provided:
[PLAIN]http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/entangle.html[/URL]
The graph of results does not make sense to me unless the scale of the bottom alignment angles is doubled for the Blue line. And for the Red line the scale doubled and 22.5 subtracted. Otherwise they results seem to indicate 100 correlation with only a 45 degree separation between to two observers.
Have they posted there data poorly, or is there something I'm missing??

1. Looking at the cones at http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/down.html might lead you to think that the polarization is known for the signal and idler beams, but it isn't. The \psi formula shows that we are looking at a mixed state.

Once the photon pairs are in a superposition, anything you knew earlier is no longer relevant. The H and V designation loses its meaning in any absolute sense. If the photon orientation was known already, subsequent measurements would actually be superfluous.

2. It looks like the scale is off to my eyes as well.
 
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  • #129
DrChinese said:
1. Looking at the cones at http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/down.html might lead you to think that the polarization is known for the signal and idler beams, but it isn't. The \psi formula shows that we are looking at a mixed state.

Once the photon pairs are in a superposition, anything you knew earlier is no longer relevant. The H and V designation loses its meaning in any absolute sense. If the photon orientation was known already, subsequent measurements would actually be superfluous.

2. It looks like the scale is off to my eyes as well.
Sorry, Dr that is not going to do - some formula for \psi that I cannot derive is not satisfactory. What I ask is very simple:

The stream of light coming, from the area I'd described as PH, i.e. parts of the upper cone well away from any intersection or overlap with the other cone.
With only that light being routed through a polar filter. And then rotating that filter through 360 degrees, what do you get?
I can only see two possible results -
A) light is reduced by 50% for any angles during this solo test.
Or B) Light pass 100% on an angle H and 0% on the relative V angle.
And would follow the same result for the red and blue shift light tested separately, or both together.
Based on the diagram, it looks like they say B is true.

This is so simple and easy to do that:
Any test or tester that refuses to even look at, know, or share what that information is, (Along with any notes they may care to share about it) is not following a scientific method.
And has no credibility to use the tool they are describing for anything.

So it it A or B.?


Also, for the whoever put together the above web pages for the proposes of their test what is the "signal" and the "idler". I thought those were terms as in idler goes to area A and signal goes to area B (and also C when ready for that part of the test). They don't seem to use those terms in that manner. How are the intersection points 1 and 2, that they use for testing, then to be described if not as "signal" and "idler"?
 
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  • #130
RandallB said:
The stream of light coming, from the area I'd described as PH, i.e. parts of the upper cone well away from any intersection or overlap with the other cone.
With only that light being routed through a polar filter. And then rotating that filter through 360 degrees, what do you get?
I can only see two possible results -
A) light is reduced by 50% for any angles during this solo test.
Or B) Light pass 100% on an angle H and 0% on the relative V angle.
And would follow the same result for the red and blue shift light tested separately, or both together.
Based on the diagram, it looks like they say B is true.
I'm sure you're right. It is only at the points of intersection of the cones that we are supposed to have "entangled photons".

The setup seems to be basically one introduced a few years ago by Kwiat et al. I've always had my doubts about what is actually measured -- there seems a possibility that in fact you usually get both H and V occurring together and what matters is the phase difference. I've just downloaded one of the refs and will check if this newer setup gives any more clues.

... Also, for the whoever put together the above web pages for the proposes of their test what is the "signal" and the "idler". I thought those were terms as in idler goes to area A and signal goes to area B (and also C when ready for that part of the test). They don't seem to use those terms in that manner. How are the intersection points 1 and 2, that they use for testing, then to be described if not as "signal" and "idler"?
The terms "signal" and "idler" are just the conventional ones used for the two differently polarised beams output by a nonlinear crystal. There is no logical difference between beams 1 and 2.

Cat
 
  • #131
Cat said:
I'm sure you're right. It is only at the points of intersection of the cones that we are supposed to have "entangled photons".

The setup seems to be basically one introduced a few years ago by Kwiat et al. I've always had my doubts about what is actually measured -- there seems a possibility that in fact you usually get both H and V occurring together and what matters is the phase difference. I've just downloaded one of the refs and will check if this newer setup gives any more clues.

The terms "signal" and "idler" are just the conventional ones used for the two differently polarised beams output by a nonlinear crystal. There is no logical difference between beams 1 and 2.

Cat

To be a bit more complete:

A photon on one cone is supposed to be entangled with a photon on the
other cone. The positions are mirrored with respect to the central beam.
Following from momentum/energy conservation.

All photons in a cone are equally polarized, Horizontal on one cone and
vertical in the other. It's only at the intersections that the polarization
can either be horizontal and vertical or both.

The polariztion is fixed by the optical axis of the BBO crystal. only H
and V occur. The BBO PDC looks somewhat like a normal prism beam
splitter with an ordinary and an extra-ordinary ray. However it's non-
linear and gives off a whole spectrum of light. The light in a cone is
mono-chromatic. Larger and smaller cones have different frequencies.


Regards, Hans
 
  • #132
Bell fails to disprove EPR.

Hans de Vries said:
To be a bit more complete:
A photon on one cone is supposed to be entangled with a photon on the
other cone. The positions are mirrored with respect to the central beam.
Following from momentum/energy conservation.
All photons in a cone are equally polarized, Horizontal on one cone and
vertical in the other. Regards, Hans
I also did find how the "half Wave filter" does work as I'd guessed and the scale shows the angle of the filter only, to get the angle of polarization, adjustment to that scale is needed.
I wish they would have used 12.25 degrees for a 22.5 shift instead of 45.
But by comparing with what a manual non-"entangled" test would do, the "LR" is correctly predicting the same as the QM for the A-C test. And Bell's approach to not allow the LR to use that prediction is just silly.

MUCH MORE significant is back at the A-B test. Here it's assumed that ALL Agree on 100% correlation. Bell depends on this agreement! - But when compared with the "non-QM" prediction including -45 & +45 degrees for the A-B test in a manual non-"entangled" test for cross checking. It's clear the best that can be hoped for is 75% correlation! The "LR" can only agree to 100% at the A-B level if it agrees with entanglement - what sense would that make?

BELL vs. EPR is just noise in my opinion. The issue is test results at A-B gives 100%! And is the assumption of QM. While "Non-QM" currently cannot, or has not shown, how it can make such a prediction. A much clearer and obvious conflict (or I should say issue) than Bell Statistics. EPR just has not tried to explain yet - but belives a better than FTL, that QM requires, explanation exists.

Randall B
 
  • #133
RandallB said:
This is so simple and easy to do that:
Any test or tester that refuses to even look at, know, or share what that information is, (Along with any notes they may care to share about it) is not following a scientific method.
And has no credibility to use the tool they are describing for anything.

You are diving into the deep end here. Published papers are intended for other professionals. Relevant information is freely available for those who are willing to invest the effort - whether you are pro or amateur. You are not the primary audience for such professionals, and so your criticism is meaningless. Even you should know better.

Your concept of LR vs. QM is well off the mark as well. LR has more baggage than QM, as Bell demonstrated amply. QM makes specific fixed predictions, which are born out experimentally at any angle. That makes it way different than LR, which can only match QM at certain specific angles depending on which version of LR you subscribe to. So far you have kicked at the bucket, but I haven't seen it move yet.
 
  • #134
DrChinese said:
You are diving into the deep end here. Published papers are intended for other professionals. Relevant information is freely available for those who are willing to invest the effort - whether you are pro or amateur. You are not the primary audience for such professionals, and so your criticism is meaningless. Even you should know better.

Your concept of LR vs. QM is well off the mark as well. LR has more baggage than QM, as Bell demonstrated amply. QM makes specific fixed predictions, which are born out experimentally at any angle. That makes it way different than LR, which can only match QM at certain specific angles depending on which version of LR you subscribe to. So far you have kicked at the bucket, but I haven't seen it move yet.
Well if the “deep end” is the same side of the pool as Dr E, Dr P, and Dr R I won’t feel to bad about it.

All I’m saying is I see lots of proclamations for “disproving” EPR with Bell by various large standard deviation factors. BUT then the claim is that most any LR prediction is a violation of BELL. -- So how did they figure the # of standard deviations without having a clear LR prediction?

Now I think they, Plus you and I, agree that Bell depends on ALL Agreeing to expect 100% correlation for the A-B test.
But if the LR does agree with this – It’s not that I have another “version” of the LR. It’s that I cannot figure who he is at all.
Here’s why:
On this point I think you and I agree; that IF a 3rd party manually simulates a test with unknown but NOT entangled polarized photons separated by 90 degrees (type II) the result of running the A-B test is going to be 75% (not 100%) correlation with A-B (fixed at 90) rotating through 360.
SO THE POINT IS – on what bases can a LR assume that when the real test is brought online he should predict 100% for the A-B part?? He needs a reason other than FTL action at a distance. I haven’t seen anyone state one yet. If I cannot get this off 75% and up to 100% I don’t see how I can apply Bell at all, let alone expect it amply proves something.

As I said back in post #112 this is a much more significant discrepancy to be resolved than the arguments over BELL vs. “loopholes” etc. Actual test gives 100% correlation at A-B, best non-QM prediction 75%.

Ether 1) There is a simple reason for a LR expecting 100% at the A-B test that has totally slipped by me.
OR 2) Or that some theroy improvement of the current explanation given by QM should be able to be found as EPR expects. (EPR does not assume that QM is wrong as far as I know)

THAT’s the only bucket I see, And I don’t see where you’ve even looked into it yet; let alone take a kick at it.

Do you want to 1) come up with that reason why LR sees 100% at A-B ??
Or should I come up with a theory for 2) ??

Randall B
 
  • #135
RandallB said:
1. All I’m saying is I see lots of proclamations for “disproving” EPR with Bell by various large standard deviation factors. BUT then the claim is that most any LR prediction is a violation of BELL. -- So how did they figure the # of standard deviations without having a clear LR prediction?

2. Now I think they, Plus you and I, agree that Bell depends on ALL Agreeing to expect 100% correlation for the A-B test.
But if the LR does agree with this – It’s not that I have another “version” of the LR. It’s that I cannot figure who he is at all.
Here’s why:

3. On this point I think you and I agree; that IF a 3rd party manually simulates a test with unknown but NOT entangled polarized photons separated by 90 degrees (type II) the result of running the A-B test is going to be 75% (not 100%) correlation with A-B (fixed at 90) rotating through 360.

SO THE POINT IS – on what bases can a LR assume that when the real test is brought online he should predict 100% for the A-B part?? He needs a reason other than FTL action at a distance. I haven’t seen anyone state one yet. If I cannot get this off 75% and up to 100% I don’t see how I can apply Bell at all, let alone expect it amply proves something.

As I said back in post #112 this is a much more significant discrepancy to be resolved than the arguments over BELL vs. “loopholes” etc. Actual test gives 100% correlation at A-B, best non-QM prediction 75%.

Ether 1) There is a simple reason for a LR expecting 100% at the A-B test that has totally slipped by me.
OR 2) Or that some theroy improvement of the current explanation given by QM should be able to be found as EPR expects. (EPR does not assume that QM is wrong as far as I know)

THAT’s the only bucket I see, And I don’t see where you’ve even looked into it yet; let alone take a kick at it.

Do you want to 1) come up with that reason why LR sees 100% at A-B ??
Or should I come up with a theory for 2) ??

Randall B

1. Good, I agree this is a fruitful area to focus in. You ask the question - how do they figure the standard deviations without having a specific LR theory to compare against? The answer is simple: the standard deviations are calculated against the Bell inequality at specific angles. The inequality deviates from QM at some angles more than others. And at some angles there is no difference between the inequality and QM. 0, 45 and 90 degrees are such angles where there is no difference at all.

So, IF YOU POSTULATE an LR that exactly matches the inequality function, that is as close as you can come to QM's predictions with an LR. No one (seriously) is really saying that the Bell inequality function itself is an LR theory. That is merely "as good as it gets". The standard deviations are usually quoted relative to the angles at which the difference is maximal - normally 22.5 degrees. See the graph of: QM versus the Inequality.

Because, you see, it possible simply to assert the following 3 cases for LRA theories:

i) You have a LR that makes the same predictions as QM! But that immediately runs afoul of the Bell inequality.

ii) You can assert that you have an LR that exactly matches the Bell inequality function as pictured; but that is ruled out experimentally by X standard deviations etc. etc. as we have already discussed; but at least you get to make the same predictions as QM at some angles. So in this case, you agree there is entaglement but not quite as much as QM predicts.

iii) You can do as Cat does, postulate an LR that is even FARTHER away from QM and FARTHER from the Bell inequality too. Obviously that will be ruled out by experiment by many more standard deviations than ii) above will. Hers is the LR theory - just one of an infinite array of possibilities - that says there is no entanglement at all. Then you get the 75% prediction instead of 100% when there is maximum correlation.

Bell's work was critical because it showed that there is NO WAY to come up with an LR that exactly matches QM's predictions. Once you follow the logic of Bell, it is pretty hard (i.e. impossible unless you are in major denial) to hold onto LR while supporting the predictions of QM.

2. 3. So the simple reason for 100% for LR when correlated is that is an angle at which there is no violation of the inequality. But you can have LRs give different values, as I mentioned. Bell applies to LR theories and acts to limit their predictions; the Bell inequality is a theoretical argument but it works because it uses the predictions of QM as a guidepost. To simply summarize:

There is no LR theory possible which matches QM at all angles AND respects the Bell Inequality. If it does not respect the Bell Inequality boundary condition, then it is not local realistic. If it does not match the predictions of QM then it is falsified by experiment.
 
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  • #136
DrChinese said:
2. 3. So the simple reason for 100% for LR when correlated is that is an angle at which there is no violation of the inequality. But you can have LRs give different values, as I mentioned. ……

iii) You can do as Cat does ….., Hers is the LR theory - - - - that says there is no entanglement at all. Then you get the 75% prediction instead of 100% when there is maximum correlation. .
Ok, piecing together your comments as above, you seem to be tracking with me a little better. You had seemed to be stuck on the A-B test (0 degrees) MUST have a 100% correlation for the LR.
But, IF that is just the most popular interpretation of the LR as it probably makes the best looking inequality graph (like the one you linked).
AND given I cannot envision how any non-entangled view I’ve seen can give 100% at 0 degrees.
THEN I should not expect the popular views on Standard Deviations or inequality graphs to be meaningful to me.

I’m satisfied that under current Classical and/or Wave theory the only prediction that can be made at 0 degrees is 75% correlation.
Thus from such a view, I don’t need Bell to tell me that LR / EPR is not matching QM’s ability to predict the results of this test right?
That’s my main point – what did I need BELL for? – I can already see the QM is outperforming the other predictors.
Just as a matter of curiosity – do you know of a rational LR explanation to make a convincing claim at 100% at 0 degrees?
Only then do I see a need to even worry about using BELL at all.
DO YOU SEE MY POINT?

I do disagree with the idea:
“that there is NO WAY to come up with an LR that exactly matches QM's predictions”
We are trying to explain the results of the test, not to match other theories. We have one theory that does, QM, That does not necessarily mean additions or alternatives are excluded.

But I do have to agree with your carefully worded:
There is no LR theory possible which matches QM at all angles AND respects the Bell Inequality.
Just that the ONLY WAY for the EPR position to hold, is to find a theory or extension to current theory, that 1)can explain test results as well as QM’s. PLUS 2)the foundation to the theory must preclude the ability to use BELL as a disqualifier as does QM. AND 3) explain why what currently looks like FTL activity in fact is not FTL.
I believe if a theory cannot clearly, and convincing revise the prediction at 0 degrees from 75% up to 100% it has no shot at the above 3 conditions.

I think were together on the above? Do you agree? If not, where not?
 
  • #137
RandallB said:
Ok, piecing together your comments as above, you seem to be tracking with me a little better. You had seemed to be stuck on the A-B test (0 degrees) MUST have a 100% correlation for the LR.
But, IF that is just the most popular interpretation of the LR as it probably makes the best looking inequality graph (like the one you linked).
AND given I cannot envision how any non-entangled view I’ve seen can give 100% at 0 degrees.
THEN I should not expect the popular views on Standard Deviations or inequality graphs to be meaningful to me.

I’m satisfied that under current Classical and/or Wave theory the only prediction that can be made at 0 degrees is 75% correlation.
Thus from such a view, I don’t need Bell to tell me that LR / EPR is not matching QM’s ability to predict the results of this test right?
That’s my main point – what did I need BELL for? – I can already see the QM is outperforming the other predictors.
Just as a matter of curiosity – do you know of a rational LR explanation to make a convincing claim at 100% at 0 degrees?
Only then do I see a need to even worry about using BELL at all.

1. DO YOU SEE MY POINT?

2. I do disagree with the idea:
“that there is NO WAY to come up with an LR that exactly matches QM's predictions”

We are trying to explain the results of the test, not to match other theories. We have one theory that does, QM, That does not necessarily mean additions or alternatives are excluded.

But I do have to agree with your carefully worded: Just that the ONLY WAY for the EPR position to hold, is to find a theory or extension to current theory, that 1)can explain test results as well as QM’s. PLUS 2)the foundation to the theory must preclude the ability to use BELL as a disqualifier as does QM. AND 3) explain why what currently looks like FTL activity in fact is not FTL.
I believe if a theory cannot clearly, and convincing revise the prediction at 0 degrees from 75% up to 100% it has no shot at the above 3 conditions.

I think were together on the above? Do you agree? If not, where not?

1. If you don't want to match the predictions of QM (i.e. you think 75% correlation at 0 degrees is reasonable), then you are right: you don't need Bell you that there is a conflict.

2. You can construct a local realistic theory that gives 100% correlation at 0 degrees. But you can't match QM's other predicted angle values with such a theory. I know this because of the Bell Theorem. You are welcome to try, but you will find every time that one provision or another will jump into consideration.
 
  • #138
DrChinese said:
2. You can construct a local realistic theory that gives 100% correlation at 0 degrees. But you can't match QM's other predicted angle values with such a theory. I know this because of the Bell Theorem. You are welcome to try, but you will find every time that one provision or another will jump into consideration.
If we want to match observation, I don't think we need our LR theory to necessarily give "100% correlation" at 0 degrees. It all depends how you measure it! Because of low detector efficiency, the actual probabilities of detection even at 0 deg have never been anywhere near to 100%. The only way people have got the idea that it is in fact achieved is that all the data they see has been ''normalised''.

I suspect that in recent Bell test experiments there is in addition another factor to be born in mind: that they probably don't have the rotational invariance that the QM formula assumes. This was illustrated to some extent in a graph from a link that I think it was you who provided, where the range of coincidences when one detector was set at 0 deg was slightly different from that when it was set at 22.5 deg. If the setup lacked it ''completely'', e.g if all the light concerned were in fact polarised vertically, the observed coincidences (given perfect detectors) would, I think, ''exactly'' match the QM prediction when one detector was fixed at 0 deg. And there is another possibility: if half were polarised V and half H but the ''same'' choice was made on each side of a Bell test experiment, as far as the coincidences were concerned you would again get apparently perfect agreement with QM for the "correct" choice of the fixed setting.

Incidentally, I don't think we've got to the bottom of what actually happens in that experiment. There is something odd about the way in which the polarisation is measured ... must look up the link ... an involvement of the relative phase of V and H components, as in Weihs' experiment?

PS: Found the link. It is http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/entangle.html/

Cat
 
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  • #139
DrChinese said:
There is no such photon state as you describe. A photon cannot be polarized either H or V (unknown and definite) and still be at 0 or 90 degrees. If you don't know, you don't know. Once you do know, you know.

To say it a different way... There is nothing special about 0 and 90 degrees. So there is no angle at which you can set a second set of polarizers and get any different correlation results. You are just as free to call any results as H and V. As always in all EPR tests, it is the angle between the 2 measuring polarizers that controls correlation results and nothing else.
I was looking back to try and find that link with the graph and came across this message. The graph disproves your statement! The choice of fixed detector angle does make a difference, not just the angle between detectors.

Cat
 
  • #140
Cat said:
I was looking back to try and find that link with the graph and came across this message. The graph disproves your statement! The choice of fixed detector angle does make a difference, not just the angle between detectors.

Cat

I couldn't find any graph like the one you described. The link has a number of different slides... can you tell me which one I should reference? I have noticed this link has a bit of difficulty because it seems to come up with different slides for different people. Is it the one where psi2 is measured at 0 and 22.5 degrees?
 
  • #141
Dr C
Cat is referring to the link you originally provided in post #119
http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/entangle.html
(Not sure what wrong with Cat’s link)
This is the one where “in our eyes” the scale seemed off. Your post #128
The scale measures the angle of the ½ wave filter; to translate to polarization angles, the bottom alignment angles need to be doubled! Thus we get 100% correlation at 0 and 90 degrees and also at 45 and 135 (AKA -45) degrees.

Now as Hans pointed out in his post #131. The most important part of the “Spectral Distribution” page of this site is how it shows that “Entanglement” can exist with KNOWN polarities, in areas of the cones not on the intersections!. Testing will show the cones produce FIXED polarity photons in the “known” areas. And I’m quite satisfied that testing on entanglement points not on the intersections (‘entanglement’ with known polarities) will successfully produce the same results as on the “Entanglement” page.

QM still has no problem using the \psi formula to predict 100% for both 0/90 and 45/-45 in an A-B test.
But that formula is NOT available to the LR.!
The LR must get 100% at 0/90, But I see 50% as the only option for the 45/-45 part of the A-B test for the LR. For a net 75% LR prediction on the A-B test! I’ve been unable to find any justification for any other LR prediction. And this prediction would be the same for known and unknown polarity with ‘entanglement. Now since the Bell proof relies on a 100% prediction by the LR for A-B testing, I don’t see how I can accept Bell.

Although the tests results posted on that Web site are more directed at using Bell to confirm the quality of their method of producing “Entanglement”. There is enough raw data there to convince me that Bell does not satisfy rejecting EPR.
But rather that the A-B test, standing on its own with no need to even run the A-C part (or use BELL), most clearly demonstrates that there is a huge and unresolved conflict (75% vs. 100%) between EPR and QM.

So as you put it:
DrChinese said:
2. You can construct a local realistic theory that gives 100% correlation at 0 degrees.
AND only if such a theory is used, is Bell useful!
It’s a mystery to me, what is that LR theory that gives 100% during the A-B test?
 
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  • #142
RandallB said:
Dr C
Cat is referring to the link you originally provided in post #119
http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-muenchen.de/exp/psrc/entangle.html
(Not sure what wrong with Cat’s link)
This is the one where “in our eyes” the scale seemed off. Your post #128
The scale measures the angle of the ½ wave filter; to translate to polarization angles, the bottom alignment angles need to be doubled! Thus we get 100% correlation at 0 and 90 degrees and also at 45 and 135 (AKA -45) degrees.

Now as Hans pointed out in his post #131. The most important part of the “Spectral Distribution” page of this site is how it shows that “Entanglement” can exist with KNOWN polarities, in areas of the cones not on the intersections!. Testing will show the cones produce FIXED polarity photons in the “known” areas. And I’m quite satisfied that testing on entanglement points not on the intersections (‘entanglement’ with known polarities) will successfully produce the same results as on the “Entanglement” page.

QM still has no problem using the \psi formula to predict 100% for both 0/90 and 45/-45 in an A-B test.
But that formula is NOT available to the LR.!
The LR must get 100% at 0/90, But I see 50% as the only option for the 45/-45 part of the A-B test for the LR. For a net 75% LR prediction on the A-B test! I’ve been unable to find any justification for any other LR prediction. And this prediction would be the same for known and unknown polarity with ‘entanglement. Now since the Bell proof relies on a 100% prediction by the LR for A-B testing, I don’t see how I can accept Bell.

Although the tests results posted on that Web site are more directed at using Bell to confirm the quality of their method of producing “Entanglement”. There is enough raw data there to convince me that Bell does not satisfy rejecting EPR.
But rather that the A-B test, standing on its own with no need to even run the A-C part (or use BELL), most clearly demonstrates that there is a huge and unresolved conflict (75% vs. 100%) between EPR and QM.

So as you put it:
AND only if such a theory is used, is Bell useful!
It’s a mystery to me, what is that LR theory that gives 100% during the A-B test?

We're wandering all over the place here.

First, I didn't write this page per the link. To the extent it is useful, great. It is just a picture so don't get caught up in a literal interpretation. If the scale is off, it is off.

The question for Bell is absolutely NOT can a LR theory that YOU think up give a 100% prediction at 0 degrees. Plenty of folks - Einstein among them - have simply assumed that the probabilistic predictions of QM are correct. Eisntein was also one of the fathers of quantum theory, as you may recall. So he was quite ambivalent about QM. But I don't think you will ever find a reference from him doubting that the statistical spin predictions of QM as simply wrong.

Bell always assumed that the predictions of QM were correct. Almost everyone did. I cannot recall any serious proponent of the position - ever - that QM would yield a wrong prediction in this regard. I am sure plenty of folks held an open mind, but cannot recall anyone actually voicing the expectation that QM was incorrect. You may question it certainly between the period 1935 to 1981 (when Aspect effectively shut the door for good) but most others never gave it as much thought. QM was simply too good.

As previously stated, the point of Bell was to demonstrate - to those who thought the predictions of QM could be neatly accommodated by some to-be-determined future LR theory - that they were flat wrong. If you don't hold this position, then Bell is not for you. Since plenty of famous physicists DID hold such a view, the Bell paper did matter. Today it is widely referenced.

You still cannot support local reality. Per your logic, LR cannot do better than 75% at 0 degrees. Fine. The experimental evidence is 100% so your LR is ruled out, end of subject. You are trying to apply logic to the LR position, and the true LR position all along has been "we will discover the truth in the future to prove our position correct". After Bell that position fell apart and no experiment was needed to cause it to fall apart. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

As to the PDC cones: if the cones generate fixed polarization outside the area of intersection, also fine. The photons are not entangled there and those photons are masked out of the test. Once you have a mixed state (where there is intersection) then all bets are off. It is the entangled states we want to measure.

Realistically, you should ignore the entire concept of the 75% case, which is throwing you off track. That case ignores entanglement in favor of a naive realism! No one takes it seriously much except those who deny the science of Bell tests, such as Cat, who also deny entanglement, Aspect, double slits, HUP, photons and in most respects the essential philosophy of QM. Cat, have I mistated your postion? :)
 
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  • #143
DrChinese said:
I couldn't find any graph like the one you described. The link has a number of different slides... can you tell me which one I should reference? I have noticed this link has a bit of difficulty because it seems to come up with different slides for different people. Is it the one where psi2 is measured at 0 and 22.5 degrees?
Yes, that's the one. RandallB has given the correct link: http://scotty.quantum.physik.uni-mu...c/entangle.html .

The difference is not very great but it seems definite enough: the ranges of the two curves are not the same. On its own this might not mean much but, if I remember correctly, we find the same kind of discrepancy in Weihs' graphs. I think this could have the same cause.

A hint as to the explanation of the scale problem is given in Weihs' paper: there are two angular values involved: a phase angle and a geometrical one. A phase difference of 180 deg between H and V components shows up as a geometrical difference of 90 deg in the output from a Wollaston prism. This is a classical wave result, as he says in one of his footnotes.

Cat
 
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  • #144
DrChinese said:
We're wandering all over the place here.
----
As to the PDC cones: if the cones generate fixed polarization outside the area of intersection, also fine. The photons are not entangled there and those photons are masked out of the test. Once you have a mixed state (where there is intersection) then all bets are off. It is the entangled states we want to measure.

Realistically, you should ignore the entire concept of the 75% case, which is throwing you off track.
This is the area to focus on to avoid wandering all over.
75% vs 100% is important.

As Hans, I believe the area outside of the intersection DOES provide "entangled" photons and "fixed". See post #131 by Hans. And as I said IF the test is run in the non-intersection area the same 100% correlation will be found when aligned on correct "entangled" points.
I understand that QM-BELL would not expect a result of "entanglement" with KNOWN polierzations. Just as the LR should expect no better tha 75%. Thus IF the result is found to be so, I believe that it would disprove QM-BELL. At least in the photon polarization case, but would not give an opinion on QM alone.

If there is "entanglement" with known polierzations, it could well mean that "entanglement may not really be Entanglement but the result of SOMETHING ELSE that needs a better explanation than we currently have. That is the EPR point.

So is "entanglement" with known polierzations real?
The raw data in the website we are looking at is not directed at answering that question, as they do not show any direct attempt to find them outside the intersections. I know Cat seems to question the value of the data in whole. But for me there is just barely enough data to convice me it is true. I understand for you it may not be enough data to convice you.

SO can we both agree that IF and only IF someone someday can successfully produce 100% correlation in a A-B test for photons outside the intersections, and of cource verify fixed polarization (ie. "entanglement" with known polierzations). That QM-Bell, at least within the photon polarization area, is in trouble?

RB
 

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