Abstract
The question of whether quantum phenomena can be explained by classical models with hidden variables is the subject of a long-lasting debate1,2. In 1964, Bell showed that certain types of classical models cannot explain the quantum mechanical predictions for specific states of distant particles, and some types of hidden variable models3,4,5,6,7,8,9 have been experimentally ruled out. An intuitive feature of classical models is non-contextuality: the property that any measurement has a value independent of other compatible measurements being carried out at the same time. However, a theorem derived by Kochen, Specker and Bell10,11,12 shows that non-contextuality is in conflict with quantum mechanics. The conflict resides in the structure of the theory and is independent of the properties of special states. It has been debated whether the Kochen–Specker theorem could be experimentally tested at all13,14. First tests of quantum contextuality have been proposed only recently, and undertaken with photons15,16 and neutrons17,18. But these tests required the generation of special quantum states and left various loopholes open. Here we perform an experiment with trapped ions that demonstrates a state-independent conflict with non-contextuality. The experiment is not subject to the detection loophole and we show that, despite imperfections and possible measurement disturbances, our results cannot be explained in non-contextual terms.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge support by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), by the European Commission (SCALA, OLAQUI and QICS networks, and the Marie-Curie programme), by the Institut für Quanteninformation GmbH, by the Spanish MCI Project FIS2008-05596 and the Junta de Andalucía Excellence Project P06-FQM-02243. This material is based on work supported in part by IARPA.
Author Contributions G.K., F.Z. and R.G. performed the experiment and partially analysed the data; M.K., O.G. and A.C. provided the theoretical part and the modelling of imperfect measurements; C.F.R. conceived the experiment and analysed the data; R.B., G.K., F.Z., R.G. and C.F.R. contributed to the experimental set-up; and all authors co-wrote the paper.
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Kirchmair, G., Zähringer, F., Gerritsma, R. et al. State-independent experimental test of quantum contextuality. Nature 460, 494–497 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08172
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08172
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