Are Bell's conditions for local realism general enough?

TL;DR

This paper critically examines Bell's conditions for local realism, proposing more realistic conditions for optical experiments that reveal a loophole allowing violations of Bell inequalities.

Contribution

It introduces more physical conditions for local realism in optical experiments, highlighting the coincidence-time loophole as a way to violate Bell inequalities.

Findings

Bell's idealized detector response is unrealistic for optical experiments

A realistic local model can violate Bell inequalities due to the coincidence-time loophole

The paper challenges the general applicability of Bell's conditions for local realism

Abstract

Bell conditions for local realism are critically revisited. In particular for optical experiments I criticize Bell's proposed response of detectors to signals as extremely idealized. More physical conditions are proposed, whence a realistic local model of an optical experiment is possible which violates the Clauser-Horne (Bell) inequality. The possibility rests on the existence of a coincidence-time loophole in the experiments.