Observable consequences of a hypothetical transient deviation from Quantum Mechanics

ALEJANDRO HNILO

Piriápolis

Conferencia; Quantum Optics VI; 2012

CLAF-OSA

The conflict between Quantum Mechanics (QM) and the intuitive concepts of Locality and Realism (LR) is manifest in the correlation between measurements performed in remote regions of a spatially spread entangled state. In this paper, it is hypothesized that transient deviations (from the values predicted by QM) occur if the correlation is measured in a time shorter than L/c, where L is the spatial spread of the entangled state and c is the speed of light. In this way, the conflict is solved by changing QM minimally. Under general assumptions, it is obtained a mathematical model of the process that reproduces the QM value after a time longer than L/c has elapsed. One of the predictions of this model is that oscillations of the rate of coincidences should exist, with a main frequency lower than c/4L. An experiment able to reveal these oscillations is shown to be accessible, by placing stations at L≈5 Km and reaching a coincidence rate of ≈3×105 s-1 (a value already obtained at the laboratory scale). This means a test of QM vs LR of a completely new type, with several practical and theoretical advantages.