Quantum non-local effects with Bose-Einstein condensates

Franck Laloë (1) , William J. Mullin (2)

1 LKB (Lhomond) - Laboratoire Kastler Brossel
2 UMASS - Department of physics and astronomy

We study theoretically the properties of two Bose-Einstein condensates in different spin states, represented by a double Fock state. Individual measurements of the spins of the particles are performed in transverse directions, giving access to the relative phase of the condensates. Initially, this phase is completely undefined, and the first measurements provide random results. But a fixed value of this phase rapidly emerges under the effect of the successive quantum measurements, giving rise to a quasi-classical situation where all spins have parallel transverse orientations. If the number of measurements reaches its maximum (the number of particles), quantum effects show up again, giving rise to violations of Bell type inequalities. The violation of BCHSH inequalities with an arbitrarily large number of spins may be comparable (or even equal) to that obtained with two spins.

Mots clés: EPR theorem; Bell theorem. Bose-Einstein condensates; quantum measurements; non-locality

Domaines: Physique Quantique [quant-ph]; Autre [cond-mat.other]

Franck Laloë, William J. Mullin. Quantum non-local effects with Bose-Einstein condensates. Physical Review Letters, 2007, 99, pp.150401. ⟨hal-00139664v4⟩