paper

Fine's Theorem for Leggett-Garg tests with an arbitrary number of measurement times

arXiv:1906.04865 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.100.042103

Abstract

If the time evolution of a system can be understood classically, then there must exist an underlying probability distribution for the variables describing the system at all times. It is well known that for systems described by a single time-evolving dichotomic variable and for which a given set of temporal correlation functions are specified, a necessary set of conditions for the existence of such a probability are provided by the Leggett-Garg (LG) inequalities. Fine's theorem in this context is the non-trivial result that a suitably augmented set of LG inequalities are both necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of an underlying probability. We present a proof of Fine's theorem for the case of measurements on a dichotomic variable at an abitrary number of times, thereby generalizing the familiar proofs for three and four times. We demonstrate how the LG framework and Fine's theorem can be extended to the case in which all possible two-time correlation functions are measured (instead of the partial set of two-time correlators normally studied). We examine the limit of a large number of measurements for both of the above cases.

arXiv comment29 pages Latex, 6 figures. Revised. Accepted for publication in Physical Review A

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