English

An operational distinction between quantum entanglement and classical non-separability

Quantum Physics 2024-10-01 v3

Abstract

Quantum entanglement describes superposition states in multi-dimensional systems, at least two partite, which cannot be factorized and are thus non-separable. Non-separable states exist also in classical theories involving vector spaces. In both cases, it is possible to violate a Bell-like inequality. This has led to controversial discussions, which we resolve by identifying an operational distinction between the classical and quantum cases.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2405.15692,
  title  = {An operational distinction between quantum entanglement and classical non-separability},
  author = {Natalia Korolkova and Luis Sánchez-Soto and Gerd Leuchs},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2405.15692},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

12 pages, 4 figures, accepted to the Topical issue of the Philosophical Transactions A: The Quantum Theory of Light, eds. S. Barnett and J. Jeffers, to commemorate Rodney Loudon and the 50th anniversary of the first edition of his seminal book

R2 v1 2026-06-28T16:39:14.845Z