Atomic-cascade experiment with detection of the recoil atom
Author
Huelga, S.F.
Ferrero, M.
Santos, E.
Attention
2299/3859
Abstract
Bell's inequalities cannot be violated in atomic-cascade experiments, even with ideal apparatus, due to the three-body character of the atomic decay. Here we propose a new experiment that would block this loophole by means of a suitable selection of an ensemble of photon pairs. A threshold value for the quantum efficiency is found which may allow the discrimination between quantum mechanics and local-hidden-variables theories. Experimental requirements for performing such a test are discussed.