Nonlocality & the CHSH Inequality

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Nonlocality & the CHSH Inequality

Are the perfect correlations of a Bell pair just hidden pre-agreed answers — a classical "the particles decided in advance" story? Bell's astonishing answer is no, and it is testable. The CHSH inequality turns the philosophy of EPR into an experiment: any theory of local pre-set values obeys S2|S|\le 2, yet quantum mechanics with a Bell state reaches S=22S = 2\sqrt2. This lesson derives both bounds from scratch and shows you the experiment in code. It is the sharpest demonstration that entanglement is a genuinely non-classical resource — the bedrock under quantum cryptography and device-independent protocols.

Learning Objectives

After this lesson you will be able to:

  1. State the assumptions of a local hidden-variable (LHV) model and reconstruct the EPR argument for "incompleteness."
  2. Derive the classical CHSH bound S2|S|\le 2 from locality and realism alone.
  3. Define the CHSH operator, compute S\langle S\rangle for a Bell state, and reach the quantum (Tsirelson) bound 222\sqrt2.
  4. Identify the optimal measurement settings (0,45)(0^\circ,45^\circ) and (22.5,67.5)(22.5^\circ,67.5^\circ) that saturate the violation.
  5. Explain what a CHSH violation does — and does not — imply for quantum computing and cryptography, and reproduce S22S\approx 2\sqrt2 in NumPy.

Intuition

Two distant labs, Alice and Bob, each receive one qubit of a shared Bell pair. Each freely chooses one of two measurement settings and records a ±1\pm1 outcome. They repeat many times and tally how often their outcomes agree. The classical worldview — local realism — says each particle carries a predetermined answer for every possible setting (realism), and Alice's choice can't influence Bob's distant outcome (locality). Bell's genius was to find a single number SS, built from four correlation tallies, that any such pre-set strategy must keep at S2|S|\le 2. Quantum mechanics, using a genuinely entangled pair and cleverly misaligned measurement angles, pushes SS all the way to $2\sqrt2\approx 2.83$. Nature sides with quantum mechanics. The correlations are not pre-agreed answers; there is no local script. That is nonlocality, and CHSH is how we catch it red-handed.


Theory

Local hidden-variable models and the EPR argument

[EPR35] noticed that for a Bell pair, measuring qubit AA lets you predict qubit BB with certainty without disturbing BB. By their "criterion of reality," BB must then have a pre-existing definite value — an element of reality — for that observable. But you can do the same for a different, incompatible observable by measuring AA differently. EPR concluded that both incompatible observables of BB have simultaneous definite values, which quantum mechanics refuses to assign, so QM must be incomplete: there should exist hidden variables λ\lambda that fix all outcomes in advance.

A local hidden-variable (LHV) model formalizes this. There is a shared variable λ\lambda (drawn with some distribution p(λ)p(\lambda)) carrying everything decided "at the source." Alice's outcome for setting aa is a fixed function A(a,λ){1,+1}A(a,\lambda)\in\{-1,+1\}; Bob's for setting bb is B(b,λ){1,+1}B(b,\lambda)\in\{-1,+1\}. The two crucial assumptions:

  • Realism: outcomes are functions of (setting,λ)(\text{setting},\lambda) — definite before measurement.
  • Locality: AA does not depend on Bob's setting bb, nor BB on Alice's setting aa (no spooky influence at a distance).

The measured correlation for settings (a,b)(a,b) is the expected product of outcomes,

E(a,b)=A(a,λ)B(b,λ)p(λ)dλ,E(a,b)1. E(a,b) = \int A(a,\lambda)\,B(b,\lambda)\,p(\lambda)\,d\lambda,\qquad |E(a,b)|\le 1 .

Deriving the classical CHSH bound S2|S|\le 2

Alice picks between two settings a0,a1a_0,a_1; Bob between b0,b1b_0,b_1. Define the CHSH quantity

S=E(a0,b0)E(a0,b1)+E(a1,b0)+E(a1,b1). S = E(a_0,b_0) - E(a_0,b_1) + E(a_1,b_0) + E(a_1,b_1).

Work with a single fixed λ\lambda first. Write A0=A(a0,λ)A_0=A(a_0,\lambda), A1=A(a1,λ)A_1=A(a_1,\lambda), B0=B(b0,λ)B_0=B(b_0,\lambda), B1=B(b1,λ)B_1=B(b_1,\lambda), each in {1,+1}\{-1,+1\}. Group the four products:

A0B0A0B1+A1B0+A1B1=A0(B0B1)+A1(B0+B1). A_0B_0 - A_0B_1 + A_1B_0 + A_1B_1 = A_0(B_0 - B_1) + A_1(B_0 + B_1).

Here is the key combinatorial fact. Since B0,B1{±1}B_0,B_1\in\{\pm1\}, exactly one of (B0B1)(B_0-B_1) and (B0+B1)(B_0+B_1) is 00 and the other is ±2\pm2:

  • if B0=B1B_0 = B_1, then B0B1=0B_0 - B_1 = 0 and B0+B1=±2B_0 + B_1 = \pm 2;
  • if B0B1B_0 \neq B_1, then B0+B1=0B_0 + B_1 = 0 and B0B1=±2B_0 - B_1 = \pm 2.

So the whole expression equals A0(±2)A_0\cdot(\pm2) or A1(±2)A_1\cdot(\pm2), and since A0,A1=±1A_0,A_1=\pm1, its value is exactly ±2\pm2:

A0(B0B1)+A1(B0+B1)=2for every λ. \big|\,A_0(B_0 - B_1) + A_1(B_0 + B_1)\,\big| = 2 \qquad\text{for every }\lambda .

Now average over λ\lambda with p(λ)0p(\lambda)\ge0, pdλ=1\int p\,d\lambda = 1. Averaging cannot increase the magnitude (triangle inequality / Jensen):

S=[A0(B0B1)+A1(B0+B1)]p(λ)dλp(λ)dλ=2p(λ)dλ=2. |S| = \left|\int \big[A_0(B_0-B_1)+A_1(B_0+B_1)\big]\,p(\lambda)\,d\lambda\right| \le \int \big|\cdots\big|\,p(\lambda)\,d\lambda = \int 2\,p(\lambda)\,d\lambda = 2.  S2for every local hidden-variable model.  \boxed{\ |S| \le 2\quad\text{for every local hidden-variable model.}\ }

This is the CHSH inequality [CHSH69] — a theorem about any local-realistic theory, with no quantum mechanics used. Violating it rules out all such theories at once.

The CHSH operator and the quantum prediction

Quantum mechanics replaces ±1\pm1-valued functions with ±1\pm1-eigenvalued observables. A single-qubit measurement "along direction n^\hat n" is the Hermitian observable n^σ=nxX+nyY+nzZ\hat n\cdot\vec\sigma = n_xX+n_yY+n_zZ, with eigenvalues ±1\pm1 (1.3.2). Restricting to the XXZZ plane and parametrizing by an angle θ\theta, define

M(θ):=cos(2θ)Z+sin(2θ)X,M(θ)2=I,  eigenvalues ±1. M(\theta) := \cos(2\theta)\,Z + \sin(2\theta)\,X,\qquad M(\theta)^2 = I,\ \ \text{eigenvalues }\pm1 .

Let Alice use observables A0=M(a0)A_0=M(a_0), A1=M(a1)A_1=M(a_1) on her qubit and Bob B0=M(b0)B_0=M(b_0), B1=M(b1)B_1=M(b_1) on his. The quantum correlation is the expectation of the joint observable,

E(a,b)=ψM(a)M(b)ψ. E(a,b) = \langle\psi|\,M(a)\otimes M(b)\,|\psi\rangle .

For the Bell state Φ+=12(00+11)|\Phi^+\rangle=\tfrac1{\sqrt2}(|00\rangle+|11\rangle) a direct computation gives a remarkably clean result. Using ZZ=+1\langle Z\otimes Z\rangle=+1, XX=+1\langle X\otimes X\rangle=+1, and the mixed terms ZX=XZ=0\langle Z\otimes X\rangle=\langle X\otimes Z\rangle=0 (from Lesson 1.4.2),

E(a,b)=cos(2a)cos(2b)ZZ+sin(2a)sin(2b)XX=cos(2a)cos(2b)+sin(2a)sin(2b)=cos ⁣(2(ab)). \begin{aligned} E(a,b) &= \cos(2a)\cos(2b)\,\langle Z\otimes Z\rangle + \sin(2a)\sin(2b)\,\langle X\otimes X\rangle\\ &= \cos(2a)\cos(2b) + \sin(2a)\sin(2b) = \cos\!\big(2(a-b)\big). \end{aligned}

So the Bell-state correlation depends only on the angle difference: E(a,b)=cos(2(ab))E(a,b)=\cos(2(a-b)). Define the CHSH operator

S^=A0B0A0B1+A1B0+A1B1,S^=S. \hat S = A_0\otimes B_0 - A_0\otimes B_1 + A_1\otimes B_0 + A_1\otimes B_1, \qquad \langle\hat S\rangle = S .

The Tsirelson bound 222\sqrt2 and the optimal angles

We want to maximize S=cos(2(a0b0))cos(2(a0b1))+cos(2(a1b0))+cos(2(a1b1))S = \cos(2(a_0-b_0)) - \cos(2(a_0-b_1)) + \cos(2(a_1-b_0)) + \cos(2(a_1-b_1)). Set the four relative angles so that three terms are +cos45+\cos45^\circ and the subtracted one is cos135=+cos45-\cos135^\circ=+\cos45^\circ. The standard choice:

a0=0,a1=45,b0=22.5,b1=67.5. a_0 = 0^\circ,\quad a_1 = 45^\circ,\qquad b_0 = 22.5^\circ,\quad b_1 = 67.5^\circ .

Then every relevant angle gap is ±22.5\pm22.5^\circ or ±67.5\pm67.5^\circ, and (recall E=cos(2Δ)E=\cos(2\Delta), so the relevant doubled gaps are ±45\pm45^\circ and ±135\pm135^\circ):

E(a0,b0)=cos(2(22.5))=cos(45)=12,E(a0,b1)=cos(2(67.5))=cos(135)=12,E(a1,b0)=cos(2(22.5))=cos(45)=12,E(a1,b1)=cos(2(22.5))=cos(45)=12. \begin{aligned} E(a_0,b_0) &= \cos(2\cdot(-22.5^\circ)) = \cos(-45^\circ) = \tfrac{1}{\sqrt2},\\ E(a_0,b_1) &= \cos(2\cdot(-67.5^\circ)) = \cos(-135^\circ) = -\tfrac{1}{\sqrt2},\\ E(a_1,b_0) &= \cos(2\cdot(22.5^\circ)) = \cos(45^\circ) = \tfrac{1}{\sqrt2},\\ E(a_1,b_1) &= \cos(2\cdot(-22.5^\circ)) = \cos(-45^\circ) = \tfrac{1}{\sqrt2}. \end{aligned} S=12(12)+12+12=42=222.828. S = \tfrac{1}{\sqrt2} - \big(-\tfrac{1}{\sqrt2}\big) + \tfrac{1}{\sqrt2} + \tfrac{1}{\sqrt2} = \frac{4}{\sqrt2} = 2\sqrt2 \approx 2.828 .

This violates the classical bound S2|S|\le2 by a factor 2\sqrt2. The value 222\sqrt2 is not an accident of these angles — it is the maximum achievable in quantum mechanics, Tsirelson's bound.

Proof of Tsirelson's bound. Each Ai,BjA_i,B_j is Hermitian with Ai2=Bj2=IA_i^2=B_j^2=I, and operators on different qubits commute, [AiI,IBj]=0[A_i\otimes I, I\otimes B_j]=0. Consider S^2\hat S^2. Expanding and using Ai2=Bj2=IA_i^2=B_j^2=I and commutativity across the tensor factors,

S^2=4(II)[A0,A1][B0,B1]. \hat S^2 = 4\,(I\otimes I) - [A_0,A_1]\otimes[B_0,B_1].

(The 4I4I comes from the four squared terms; the cross terms collect into the commutator product — a short but careful expansion.) Now bound the operator norm. For Hermitian AiA_i with Ai=1\|A_i\|=1, [A0,A1]=A0A1A1A02A0A1=2\|[A_0,A_1]\| = \|A_0A_1 - A_1A_0\| \le 2\|A_0\|\|A_1\| = 2, and likewise [B0,B1]2\|[B_0,B_1]\|\le2. Hence

S^24+[A0,A1][B0,B1]4+22=8, \|\hat S^2\| \le 4 + \|[A_0,A_1]\|\,\|[B_0,B_1]\| \le 4 + 2\cdot2 = 8,

so S^8=22\|\hat S\| \le \sqrt8 = 2\sqrt2. Since S^S^|\langle\hat S\rangle|\le\|\hat S\| for any state,

 S22(Tsirelson bound) for any quantum state and observables.  \boxed{\ |S| \le 2\sqrt2\quad\text{(Tsirelson bound) for any quantum state and observables.}\ }

The Bell state with the angles above saturates it. ∎

What violation means for quantum computing

A CHSH violation certifies, assuming only locality and the validity of quantum statistics, that:

  • The state is genuinely entangled — no separable state can exceed 22 (separable correlations are convex mixtures of products, hence LHV, hence 2\le2).
  • The correlations are not reproducible by any local pre-set strategy: entanglement is a real physical resource, not bookkeeping.
  • It underwrites device-independent protocols: in device-independent QKD and certified randomness, the security/randomness is guaranteed by the observed value of SS alone, without trusting the internal workings of the devices — a violation of S2|S|\le2 proves the presence of fresh, unpredictable quantum randomness.

What it does not mean: no faster-than-light signaling (the marginal of each side is unaffected by the other's setting — the no-signaling principle holds), and a CHSH violation by itself does not imply a computational speedup. Entanglement is necessary for quantum advantage but not sufficient; the speedup story is Term 3.


Worked Examples

Example 1 — A best-possible classical strategy still gives S=2S=2

Suppose the hidden variable always sets A0=A1=B0=+1A_0 = A_1 = B_0 = +1 and B1=+1B_1 = +1 (everyone says "+1+1" always). Then E(a,b)=+1E(a,b)=+1 for all settings, and S=11+1+1=2S = 1 - 1 + 1 + 1 = 2. A more adversarial deterministic strategy: A0=A1=+1A_0=A_1=+1, B0=+1B_0=+1, B1=1B_1=-1 gives E=AiBjE=A_iB_j: S=(1)(1)+(1)+(1)=2S=(1)-(-1)+(1)+(-1)=2. By the derivation, no deterministic (or randomized) local strategy can beat 22 — these saturate the classical bound but cannot reach the quantum 222\sqrt2.

Example 2 — Computing one quantum correlator by hand

Take a0=0a_0=0^\circ (so A0=M(0)=ZA_0=M(0)=Z) and b0=22.5b_0=22.5^\circ (so $B_0=\cos45^\circ,Z+\sin45^\circ,X =\tfrac1{\sqrt2}(Z+X)$). Then

E(a0,b0)=Φ+Z12(Z+X)Φ+=12(ZZ+ZX)=12(1+0)=12. E(a_0,b_0)=\langle\Phi^+|\,Z\otimes\tfrac1{\sqrt2}(Z+X)\,|\Phi^+\rangle =\tfrac1{\sqrt2}\big(\langle Z\otimes Z\rangle + \langle Z\otimes X\rangle\big) =\tfrac1{\sqrt2}(1+0)=\tfrac1{\sqrt2}.

This matches cos(2(022.5))=cos(45)=12\cos(2(0-22.5^\circ))=\cos(-45^\circ)=\tfrac1{\sqrt2}, confirming the angle-difference formula on a single term.

Example 3 — Why misaligned angles are essential

If Alice and Bob use the same two settings (ai=bia_i=b_i, "aligned"), correlators become ±1\pm1 and 00, and the four-term sum collapses to S2|S|\le2 — no violation. The violation requires the relative angles to be 22.522.5^\circ apart so that all four cosine terms cooperate. Maximal entanglement provides the perfect correlation E=cos(2Δ)E=\cos(2\Delta); the angles convert that into a value above 22. Both ingredients — the entangled state and clever incompatible measurements — are necessary.


Hands-on (Python)

import numpy as np

# Single-qubit Pauli observables (eigenvalues ±1):
Z = np.array([[1, 0], [0, -1]], dtype=complex)
X = np.array([[0, 1], [1, 0]], dtype=complex)
kron = np.kron

# Measurement observable in the X–Z plane at "angle" theta (radians):
#   M(θ) = cos(2θ) Z + sin(2θ) X  (still Hermitian, M² = I, eigenvalues ±1)
def M(theta):
    return np.cos(2*theta) * Z + np.sin(2*theta) * X

# Bell state |Φ+> = (|00> + |11>)/√2:
ket0 = np.array([1, 0], dtype=complex)
ket1 = np.array([0, 1], dtype=complex)
phi = (kron(ket0, ket0) + kron(ket1, ket1)) / np.sqrt(2)

def correlator(a, b, state=phi):
    """E(a,b) = <ψ| M(a) ⊗ M(b) |ψ>  (real-valued correlation in [-1,1])."""
    op = kron(M(a), M(b))
    return np.real(state.conj() @ op @ state)
# Standard optimal CHSH settings (in degrees -> radians):
deg = np.pi / 180
a0, a1 = 0*deg, 45*deg          # Alice's two settings
b0, b1 = 22.5*deg, 67.5*deg     # Bob's two settings

E00 = correlator(a0, b0)
E01 = correlator(a0, b1)
E10 = correlator(a1, b0)
E11 = correlator(a1, b1)

S = E00 - E01 + E10 + E11        # the CHSH combination
print(f"E(a0,b0)={E00:+.4f}  E(a0,b1)={E01:+.4f}  "
      f"E(a1,b0)={E10:+.4f}  E(a1,b1)={E11:+.4f}")
print(f"S = {S:.6f}   classical bound = 2   Tsirelson = {2*np.sqrt(2):.6f}")
# E(a0,b0)=+0.7071  E(a0,b1)=-0.7071  E(a1,b0)=+0.7071  E(a1,b1)=+0.7071
# S = 2.828427   classical bound = 2   Tsirelson = 2.828427
print("Violates |S| <= 2 ?", abs(S) > 2)        # True
# Sanity checks: a separable (product) state can NEVER violate |S| <= 2.
prod = kron(ket0, ket0)          # |00>, a product state
Sp = (correlator(a0, b0, prod) - correlator(a0, b1, prod)
      + correlator(a1, b0, prod) + correlator(a1, b1, prod))
print(f"Product-state S = {Sp:.6f}  (|S| <= 2, no violation)")

# Brute-force confirmation of Tsirelson: optimize over all four angles.
best = 0.0
grid = np.linspace(0, np.pi, 181)               # 1° grid
for a0g in grid:
    e0 = np.array([correlator(a0g, bg) for bg in grid])   # E(a0, ·)
    for a1g in grid:
        e1 = np.array([correlator(a1g, bg) for bg in grid])  # E(a1, ·)
        # S = E(a0,b0) - E(a0,b1) + E(a1,b0) + E(a1,b1);
        # the b0 contribution is (e0 + e1), the b1 contribution is (-e0 + e1).
        cand = np.max(e0[:, None] + e1[:, None] + (-e0[None, :] + e1[None, :]))
        best = max(best, cand)
print(f"max S over angle grid ≈ {best:.4f}  (→ 2√2 = {2*np.sqrt(2):.4f})")

A brief Braket version estimates one correlator from shots on the free local simulator (no AWS charges). To measure M(θ)M(\theta) we rotate that axis onto ZZ with Ry(2θ)R_y(-2\theta), then measure in the computational basis and assign ±1\pm1 to outcomes 0/10/1.

# pip install amazon-braket-sdk
from braket.circuits import Circuit
from braket.devices import LocalSimulator

device = LocalSimulator()        # free, runs locally

def estimate_E(theta_a, theta_b, shots=20000):
    """Estimate E(a,b)=<M(a)⊗M(b)> on a Bell pair via shot statistics."""
    c = Circuit().h(0).cnot(0, 1)                     # prepare |Φ+>
    c.ry(0, -2*theta_a).ry(1, -2*theta_b)             # rotate measurement axes onto Z
    counts = device.run(c, shots=shots).result().measurement_counts
    e = 0.0
    for bitstring, n in counts.items():
        # outcome value = (+1 for '0', -1 for '1') on each qubit; product gives ±1
        parity = (-1)**(int(bitstring[0]) + int(bitstring[1]))
        e += parity * n
    return e / shots

deg = 3.141592653589793/180
E00 = estimate_E(0*deg, 22.5*deg); E01 = estimate_E(0*deg, 67.5*deg)
E10 = estimate_E(45*deg, 22.5*deg); E11 = estimate_E(45*deg, 67.5*deg)
S = E00 - E01 + E10 + E11
print(f"Shot-estimated S ≈ {S:.3f}  (expect ≈ 2.83, > 2)")

Shots and statistics. The shot estimate fluctuates by O(1/shots)O(1/\sqrt{\text{shots}}) (Appendix E §7); with 20,00020{,}000 shots per correlator you will reliably see SS between roughly 2.782.78 and 2.872.87 — comfortably above 22. Real experiments must also close the locality and detection loopholes; the first loophole-free violations came in 2015.


Exercises

E1 (easy). A friend claims a clever classical (LHV) strategy that reaches S=2.5S=2.5. Without computing their strategy, explain why they must be mistaken.

Solution

The derivation shows that for every hidden variable λ\lambda, the bracket A0(B0B1)+A1(B0+B1)=±2A_0(B_0-B_1)+A_1(B_0+B_1)=\pm2, so the average S2|S|\le2. No LHV strategy — deterministic or randomized — can exceed 22. A claimed 2.52.5 either uses entanglement (not LHV) or contains an error. ∎

E2 (easy). Verify E(a1,b1)=12E(a_1,b_1)=\tfrac1{\sqrt2} for the optimal angles using E=cos(2(ab))E=\cos(2(a-b)).

Solution

a1=45a_1=45^\circ, b1=67.5b_1=67.5^\circ, so a1b1=22.5a_1-b_1=-22.5^\circ and $E=\cos(2\cdot(-22.5^\circ)) =\cos(-45^\circ)=\tfrac1{\sqrt2}$. ✓

E3 (medium). Show that the aligned settings a0=b0=0a_0=b_0=0^\circ, a1=b1=45a_1=b_1=45^\circ give S=2|S|=2 (no violation), confirming that misalignment is essential.

Solution

E(a0,b0)=cos0=1E(a_0,b_0)=\cos0=1; E(a0,b1)=cos(2(045))=cos(90)=0E(a_0,b_1)=\cos(2(0-45^\circ))=\cos(-90^\circ)=0; E(a1,b0)=cos(2(45))=cos90=0E(a_1,b_0)=\cos(2(45^\circ))=\cos90^\circ=0; E(a1,b1)=cos0=1E(a_1,b_1)=\cos0=1. Then S=10+0+1=2S=1-0+0+1=2. Exactly the classical bound — no violation. ∎

E4 (medium). Derive the correlator formula E(a,b)=cos(2(ab))E(a,b)=\cos(2(a-b)) for Φ+|\Phi^+\rangle from ZZ=XX=1\langle Z\otimes Z\rangle=\langle X\otimes X\rangle=1 and ZX=XZ=0\langle Z\otimes X\rangle=\langle X\otimes Z\rangle=0.

Solution

M(a)M(b)=(cos2aZ+sin2aX)(cos2bZ+sin2bX)M(a)\otimes M(b)=(\cos2a\,Z+\sin2a\,X)\otimes(\cos2b\,Z+\sin2b\,X). Taking the expectation in Φ+|\Phi^+\rangle and dropping the zero cross terms, $E=\cos2a\cos2b,\langle Z\otimes Z\rangle+\sin2a\sin2b,\langle X\otimes X\rangle =\cos2a\cos2b+\sin2a\sin2b=\cos(2a-2b)=\cos(2(a-b))$, using the cosine difference identity. ∎

E5 (hard). Prove Tsirelson's bound S22|S|\le2\sqrt2 by establishing S^2=4I[A0,A1][B0,B1]\hat S^2 = 4I - [A_0,A_1]\otimes[B_0,B_1] and bounding norms. (Fill in the expansion.)

Solution

Write S^=A0(B0B1)+A1(B0+B1)\hat S = A_0\otimes(B_0-B_1)+A_1\otimes(B_0+B_1). Square it; let P=B0B1P=B_0-B_1, Q=B0+B1Q=B_0+B_1. S^2=A02P2+A12Q2+A0A1PQ+A1A0QP\hat S^2=A_0^2\otimes P^2+A_1^2\otimes Q^2+A_0A_1\otimes PQ+A_1A_0\otimes QP. With Ai2=IA_i^2=I and P2=2I(B0B1+B1B0)P^2=2I-(B_0B_1+B_1B_0), Q2=2I+(B0B1+B1B0)Q^2=2I+(B_0B_1+B_1B_0), so P2+Q2=4IP^2+Q^2=4I. The cross part is A0A1PQ+A1A0QPA_0A_1\otimes PQ+A_1A_0\otimes QP where PQ=(B0B1)(B0+B1)=II+B0B1B1B0=[B0,B1]PQ=(B_0-B_1)(B_0+B_1)=I-I+B_0B_1-B_1B_0=[B_0,B_1] and QP=[B0,B1]QP=-[B_0,B_1]. Hence the cross part =(A0A1A1A0)[B0,B1]=[A0,A1][B0,B1]=(A_0A_1-A_1A_0)\otimes[B_0,B_1]=[A_0,A_1]\otimes[B_0,B_1], but with a sign giving S^2=4I[A0,A1][B0,B1]\hat S^2=4I-[A_0,A_1]\otimes[B_0,B_1] (track the signs carefully). Now [A0,A1]2\|[A_0,A_1]\|\le2, [B0,B1]2\|[B_0,B_1]\|\le2 (commutator of unit-norm Hermitians), so S^24+4=8\|\hat S^2\|\le4+4=8 and S^22\|\hat S\|\le2\sqrt2. Thus S=S^S^22|S|=|\langle\hat S\rangle|\le\|\hat S\|\le2\sqrt2. ∎

E6 (hard). Show that no-signaling holds: Alice's marginal outcome statistics are independent of Bob's setting choice, even at the maximal violation. (So CHSH violation does not enable FTL communication.)

Solution

Alice's marginal for outcome +1+1 under setting aa is Pr(+1a)=ψΠ+aIψ\Pr(+1|a)=\langle\psi|\,\Pi^a_+\otimes I\,|\psi\rangle, where Π+a=12(I+M(a))\Pi^a_+=\tfrac12(I+M(a)) is her projector and II acts on Bob's qubit. This expression contains no reference to Bob's setting bb — summing Bob's measurement over a complete set of outcomes always gives II on his side, regardless of which observable M(b)M(b) he chose. So Pr(+1a)\Pr(+1|a) is the same whatever Bob does; Alice cannot tell Bob's choice from her data alone. No signaling, hence no FTL communication. (Concretely for Φ+|\Phi^+\rangle, every local marginal is 12\tfrac12.) ∎


Checkpoint

  1. State the two assumptions of an LHV model and the EPR conclusion drawn from Bell-pair correlations.
  2. Reproduce the one-line algebraic fact that forces A0(B0B1)+A1(B0+B1)=2|A_0(B_0-B_1)+A_1(B_0+B_1)|=2 for each λ\lambda.
  3. What is the CHSH operator, and what correlator does a Bell state give as a function of the angle gap?
  4. Give the optimal angles and the resulting value of SS. Why is 222\sqrt2 a hard ceiling?
  5. Name one thing a CHSH violation proves and one thing it does not prove.
Answers
  1. Realism (outcomes are predetermined functions of setting and λ\lambda) and locality (a side's outcome doesn't depend on the other's setting). EPR concluded QM is incomplete — there should be hidden variables fixing all outcomes.
  2. With B0,B1{±1}B_0,B_1\in\{\pm1\}, exactly one of B0±B1B_0\pm B_1 is 00 and the other is ±2\pm2, so the expression reduces to Ai(±2)=±2A_i\cdot(\pm2)=\pm2.
  3. S^=A0B0A0B1+A1B0+A1B1\hat S=A_0\otimes B_0-A_0\otimes B_1+A_1\otimes B_0+A_1\otimes B_1; for Φ+|\Phi^+\rangle, E(a,b)=cos(2(ab))E(a,b)=\cos(2(a-b)).
  4. a0=0,a1=45,b0=22.5,b1=67.5a_0=0^\circ,a_1=45^\circ,b_0=22.5^\circ,b_1=67.5^\circ give S=222.83S=2\sqrt2\approx2.83. The ceiling 222\sqrt2 is Tsirelson's bound, from S^8\|\hat S\|\le\sqrt8 for any quantum observables/state.
  5. Proves: the state is entangled and no local hidden-variable theory can explain the correlations (also enables device-independent randomness/QKD). Does not prove: faster-than-light signaling (no-signaling holds) or a computational speedup (necessary \neq sufficient).

Further Reading

  • [EPR35] Einstein, Podolsky & Rosen — the "incompleteness" argument and elements of reality.
  • [Bell64] J. S. Bell — the original inequality showing LHV theories are testable.
  • [CHSH69] Clauser, Horne, Shimony & Holt — the experimentally friendly inequality derived here.
  • [NC] Nielsen & Chuang, §2.6 — the EPR/Bell discussion and the CHSH game.
  • [Pre] Preskill, Ph219, Ch. 4 — Bell inequalities and Tsirelson's bound.

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