Breakdown of the classical description of a local system

Kot Eran, Niels Grønbech-Jensen, Bo Melholt Nielsen, Jonas Schou Neergaard-Nielsen, Eugene Simon Polzik, Anders Søndberg Sørensen

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

9 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

We provide a straightforward demonstration of a fundamental difference between classical and quantum mechanics for a single local system: namely, the absence of a joint probability distribution of the position x and momentum p. Elaborating on a recently reported criterion by Bednorz and Belzig [ Phys. Rev. A 83 052113 (2011)] we derive a simple criterion that must be fulfilled for any joint probability distribution in classical physics. We demonstrate the violation of this criterion using the homodyne measurement of a single photon state, thus proving a straightforward signature of the breakdown of a classical description of the underlying state. Most importantly, the criterion used does not rely on quantum mechanics and can thus be used to demonstrate nonclassicality of systems not immediately apparent to exhibit quantum behavior. The criterion is directly applicable to any system described by the continuous canonical variables x and p, such as a mechanical or an electrical oscillator and a collective spin of a large ensemble.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftEPL
Vol/bind108
Udgave nummer23
Sider (fra-til)233601
Antal sider5
ISSN0295-5075
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 6 jun. 2012

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