Journal article
Can different quantum state vectors correspond to the same physical state? An experimental test
- Abstract:
- A century after the development of quantum theory, the interpretation of a quantum state is still discussed. If a physicist claims to have produced a system with a particular quantum state vector, does this represent directly a physical property of the system, or is the state vector merely a summary of the physicist's information about the system? Assume that a state vector corresponds to a probability distribution over possible values of an unknown physical or 'ontic' state. Then, a recent no-go theorem shows that distinct state vectors with overlapping distributions lead to predictions different from quantum theory. We report an experimental test of these predictions using trapped ions. Within experimental error, the results confirm quantum theory. We analyse which kinds of models are ruled out.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 970.8KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1088/1367-2630/18/1/013007
Authors
- Publisher:
- IOP Publishing
- Journal:
- New Journal of Physics More from this journal
- Volume:
- 18
- Issue:
- 1
- Pages:
- 013007-013007
- Publication date:
- 2015-12-23
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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1367-2630
- Pubs id:
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pubs:581533
- UUID:
-
uuid:11819e11-8337-4700-9023-3e6de5c22423
- Local pid:
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pubs:581533
- Source identifiers:
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581533
- Deposit date:
-
2016-01-08
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
- Copyright date:
- 2015
- Notes:
- © 2016 IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. This is the publisher's version of the article. The final version is available online from IOP Publishing Ltd at: [10.1088/1367-2630/18/1/013007]
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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