Positive phase space transformation incompatible with classical physics

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Mar 20;102(11):110404. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.110404. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Abstract

Bell conjectured that a positive Wigner function does not allow violation of the inequalities imposed by local hidden variable theories. A requirement for this conjecture is "when phase space measurements are performed." We introduce the theory-independent concept of "operationally local transformations" which refers to the change of the switch on a local measurement apparatus. We show that two separated parties, performing only phase space measurements on a composite quantum system with a positive Wigner function and performing only operationally local transformations that preserve this positivity, can nonetheless violate Bell's inequality. Such operationally local transformations are realized using entangled ancillae.