An analysis of spin correlations in ¹²C(d,²He)¹²B to test the Bell and Wigner inequalities : a tale of two protons

• Main Author: Polachic, Christopher John Arthur
• Other Authors: Rangacharyulu, Chilakamarri (Chary)
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: University of Saskatchewan 2003
• Subjects: bohm; quantum mechanics; epr; bell; wigner
• Online Access: http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-01232003-112350/

Arising out of the EPR debate, the Bell and Wigner inequalities of quantum theory are experimentally testable relations which address the question of quantum completeness. This thesis provides feasibility results for a fermionic test of the Bell inequality, and the first known attempt to investigate the completeness question through the Wigner relation. Such a test is made possible by the production of an entangled p-p singlet at the KVI research facility in Groningen, the Netherlands, through the reactions 12C(d,2He)12B and p(d,2He)n. The p-p spin-correlations are analyzable via the KVI's 2-pi polarimeter acceptance, which eliminates loopholes common to previous experiments. The results distinguish between a hidden variables and quantum mechanical description of the universe. Also presented is a critique of the GHZ argument against the existence of local hidden variables.