On the Violation of Causality in Quantum Experiments

Abstract

Four experimental situations are analyzed from the viewpoint of fulfilling the causality principle: instantaneous collapse of the quantum state vector of a system of entangled particles, a quantum eraser, the quantum Zeno paradox, and light transformation by a nonlinear beam splitter. The last is a planar interface of two transparent dielectrics, at least one of which possesses Kerr nonlinearity, that is, its refractive index depends on the intensity of radiation that penetrates it. It has been shown that the causality principle in the first two cases can be violated only in the sense of the instantaneousness of the manifestation of the effect with respect to the cause. For a nonlinear beam splitter, in addition to the directly opposite predictions given by the quantum and classical theories of its description for the behavior of phase fluctuations of the radiation transformed by the splitter, the causality principle is violated in the most general sense: the effect of the following event on the previous one. The quantum Zeno paradox occupies an intermediate position of democratic involvement of the cause and effect in the general cascade of two subsequent events, i.e., the first event can prevent the second event, just as the second event can prevent the first one.