Inadequacy of a classical interpretation of quantum projective measurements via Wigner functions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a non-negative Wigner function cannot serve as a classical hidden variable model for quantum projective measurements, highlighting fundamental limitations in classical interpretations of quantum measurements.

Contribution

It shows that non-negative Wigner functions are inadequate for classical interpretations of quantum projective measurements, even when the projected states have non-negative Wigner functions.

Findings

Projectors with proper Wigner functions produce states with non-negative Wigner functions.

States with non-negative Wigner functions have projectors with non-proper Wigner functions.

Non-negative Wigner functions cannot serve as hidden variables for quantum measurements.

Abstract

We study the possibility of giving a classical interpretation to quantum projective measurements for a particle described by a pure Gaussian state whose Wigner function is non-negative. We analyze the case of a projective measurement which gives rise to a proper Wigner function, i.e., taking on, as its values, the eigenvalues of the projector. We find that, despite having this property, this kind of projector produces a state whose Wigner function ceases to be non-negative and hence precludes its interpretation as a classical probability density. We also study the general case in which the projected state has a non-negative Wigner function; but then we find that the Wigner function of the projector is not a proper one. Thus, we conclude that a non-negative Wigner function is inadequate to serve as a hidden variable model for quantum processes in which projective measurements take place.