Weak versus Deterministic Macroscopic Realism, and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen's Elements of Reality

• Published in: Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 26; no. 1; p. 11
• Main Authors: Fulton, Jesse, Thenabadu, Manushan, Teh, Run Yan, Reid, Margaret D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21.12.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Bell inequality; element of reality; Incompatibility; Inequalities; Leggett-Garg inequality; macroscopic realism; quantum entanglement; Quantum mechanics; quantum nonlocality; Quantum physics; Quantum theory; Realism; quantum entanglement; Leggett-Garg inequality; Bell inequality; element of reality; macroscopic realism; quantum nonlocality
• ISSN: 1099-4300; 1099-4300
• DOI: 10.3390/e26010011

The violation of a Leggett-Garg inequality confirms the incompatibility between quantum mechanics and the combined premises (called macro-realism) of macroscopic realism (MR) and noninvasive measurability (NIM). Arguments can be given that the incompatibility arises because MR fails for systems in a superposition of macroscopically distinct states-or else, that NIM fails. In this paper, we consider a strong negation of macro-realism, involving superpositions of coherent states, where the NIM premise is replaced by Bell's locality premise. We follow recent work and propose the validity of a subset of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) and Leggett-Garg premises, referred to as (wMR). In finding consistency with wMR, we identify that the Leggett-Garg inequalities are violated because of failure of MR and NIM, but also that are valid in a weaker (less restrictive) sense. Weak MR is distinguished from (dMR) by recognizing that a measurement involves a reversible unitary interaction that establishes the measurement setting. Weak MR posits that a predetermined value for the outcome of a measurement can be attributed to the system the interaction, when the measurement setting is experimentally specified. An extended definition of wMR considers the "element of reality" defined by EPR for system A, where one can predict with certainty the outcome of a measurement on A by performing a measurement on system B. Weak MR posits that this element of reality exists once the unitary interaction determining the measurement setting at B has occurred. We demonstrate compatibility of systems violating Leggett-Garg inequalities with wMR but point out that dMR has been shown to be falsifiable. Other tests of wMR are proposed, the predictions of wMR agreeing with quantum mechanics. Finally, we compare wMR with macro-realism models discussed elsewhere. An argument in favour of wMR is presented: wMR resolves a potential contradiction pointed out by Leggett and Garg between failure of macro-realism and assumptions intrinsic to quantum measurement theory.