Hidden variables theories for quantum mechanics are usually assumed to satisfy the KS condition. The Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem then shows that these theories are necessarily contextual. But the KS condition can be criticized from an operational viewpoint, which suggests that a weaker condition (MGP) should be adopted in place of it. This leads one to introduce a class of hidden parameters the...

Employing five commuting sets of five-qubit observables, we propose specific 160−661 and 160−21 state proofs of the Bell-Kochen-Specker theorem that are also proofs of Bell’s theorem. A histogram of the ‘Hilbert-Schmidt’ distances between the corresponding maximal bases shows in both cases a noise-like behaviour. The five commuting sets are also ascribed a finite-geometrical meaning in terms of...

According to a wrong interpretation of the Bell theorem, it has been repeatedly claimed in recent times that we are forced by experiments to drop any possible form of realism in the foundations of quantum mechanics. In this paper I defend the simple thesis according to which the above claim cannot be consistently supported: the Bell theorem does not concern realism, and realism per se cannot be...

A recent proof of Bell's theorem without inequalities [A. Cabello, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 1911 (2001)] is formulated as a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger-type proof involving just two observers. On one hand, this new approach allows us to derive an experimentally testable Bell inequality which is violated by quantum mechanics. On the other hand, it leads to a new state-independent proof of the Kochen...

It is explained on a physical basis how absence of contextuality allows Bell inequalities to be violated, without bringing an implication on locality or realism. Hereto we connect first to the local realistic theory Stochastic Electrodynamics, and then put the argument more broadly. Thus even if Bell Inequality Violation is demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt, it will have no say on local real...

After decades of experimental validation, Bell’s Theorem has changed the ontological status of local realism in physics. But recent theoretical and experimental results present a new challenge to Bell’s analysis. A geometricalgebraic challenge claims that Bell makes a topological mistake, while ‘weak measurement’ results challenge the Copenhagen Interpretation. We review these results and analy...

The Bell theorem for a pair of two-state systems in a singlet state is formulated for the entire range of measurement settings. Typeset using REVTEX 1 The Bell theorem is usually formulated with the help of the Clauser-Horne [1] or the CHSH inequality [2]. These inequalities are satisfied by any local realistic theory and are violated by quantum mechanical predictions. They involve two apparatu...

A certain class of parametric down-conversion Bell type experiments has the following features. In the idealized perfect situation it is in only 50% of cases that each observer receives a photon; in the other 50% of cases one observer receives both photons of a pair while the other observer receives none. The standard approach is to discard the events of the second type. Only the remaining ones...

We present detailed instructions for constructing and operating an apparatus to produce and detect polarization-entangled photons. The source operates by type I spontaneous parametric downconversion in a two-crystal geometry. Photons are detected in coincidence by single-photon counting modules and show strong angular and polarization correlations. We observe more than 100 entangled photon pair...

Two new formulations of Bell’s theorem are given here. First, we consider a definite set of two entangled photons with only two polarization directions, for which Bell’s locality assumption is violated for the case of perfect correlation. Then, using a different approach, we prove an efficient Bell-type inequality which is violated by some quantum mechanical predictions, independent of the effi...