Violation of a Leggett-Garg inequality with ideal non-invasive measurements

George C. Knee; Stephanie Simmons; Erik M. Gauger; John J.L. Morton; Helge Riemann; Nikolai V. Abrosimov; Peter Becker; Hans Joachim Pohl; Kohei M. Itoh; Mike L.W. Thewalt; G. Andrew D. Briggs; Simon C. Benjamin

doi:10.1038/ncomms1614

Violation of a Leggett-Garg inequality with ideal non-invasive measurements

George C. Knee, Stephanie Simmons, Erik M. Gauger, John J.L. Morton, Helge Riemann, Nikolai V. Abrosimov, Peter Becker, Hans Joachim Pohl, Kohei M. Itoh, Mike L.W. Thewalt, G. Andrew D. Briggs, Simon C. Benjamin

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123 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The quantum superposition principle states that an entity can exist in two different states simultaneously, counter to our 'classical' intuition. Is it possible to understand a given system's behaviour without such a concept? A test designed by Leggett and Garg can rule out this possibility. The test, originally intended for macroscopic objects, has been implemented in various systems. However to date no experiment has employed the 'ideal negative result' measurements that are required for the most robust test. Here we introduce a general protocol for these special measurements using an ancillary system, which acts as a local measuring device but which need not be perfectly prepared. We report an experimental realization using spin-bearing phosphorus impurities in silicon. The results demonstrate the necessity of a non-classical picture for this class of microscopic system. Our procedure can be applied to systems of any size, whether individually controlled or in a spatial ensemble.

Original language	English
Article number	606
Journal	Nature communications
Volume	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1614
Publication status	Published - 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemistry(all)
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Physics and Astronomy(all)

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title = "Violation of a Leggett-Garg inequality with ideal non-invasive measurements",

abstract = "The quantum superposition principle states that an entity can exist in two different states simultaneously, counter to our 'classical' intuition. Is it possible to understand a given system's behaviour without such a concept? A test designed by Leggett and Garg can rule out this possibility. The test, originally intended for macroscopic objects, has been implemented in various systems. However to date no experiment has employed the 'ideal negative result' measurements that are required for the most robust test. Here we introduce a general protocol for these special measurements using an ancillary system, which acts as a local measuring device but which need not be perfectly prepared. We report an experimental realization using spin-bearing phosphorus impurities in silicon. The results demonstrate the necessity of a non-classical picture for this class of microscopic system. Our procedure can be applied to systems of any size, whether individually controlled or in a spatial ensemble.",

author = "Knee, {George C.} and Stephanie Simmons and Gauger, {Erik M.} and Morton, {John J.L.} and Helge Riemann and Abrosimov, {Nikolai V.} and Peter Becker and Pohl, {Hans Joachim} and Itoh, {Kohei M.} and Thewalt, {Mike L.W.} and Briggs, {G. Andrew D.} and Benjamin, {Simon C.}",

note = "Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge helpful discussions with A.J. Leggett, J. Butterfield, G. Milburn, D. Loss, A. Ardavan and V. Watson. We thank EPSRC for supporting work at Oxford through CAESR (EP/D048559/1) and the Oxford-Keio collaboration through the JST-EPSRC SIC Program (EP/H025952/1). This work was supported by the National Research Foundation and Ministry of Education, Singapore, the Royal Society, the Clarendon Fund and St John{\textquoteright}s College Oxford.",

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doi = "10.1038/ncomms1614",

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journal = "Nature communications",

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AU - Knee, George C.

AU - Simmons, Stephanie

AU - Gauger, Erik M.

AU - Morton, John J.L.

AU - Riemann, Helge

AU - Abrosimov, Nikolai V.

AU - Becker, Peter

AU - Pohl, Hans Joachim

AU - Itoh, Kohei M.

AU - Thewalt, Mike L.W.

AU - Briggs, G. Andrew D.

AU - Benjamin, Simon C.

N1 - Funding Information: We gratefully acknowledge helpful discussions with A.J. Leggett, J. Butterfield, G. Milburn, D. Loss, A. Ardavan and V. Watson. We thank EPSRC for supporting work at Oxford through CAESR (EP/D048559/1) and the Oxford-Keio collaboration through the JST-EPSRC SIC Program (EP/H025952/1). This work was supported by the National Research Foundation and Ministry of Education, Singapore, the Royal Society, the Clarendon Fund and St John’s College Oxford.

PY - 2012

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Violation of a Leggett-Garg inequality with ideal non-invasive measurements

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