Bell's theorem for trajectories

Abstract

In classical theory, the trajectory of a particle is entirely predetermined by the complete set of initial conditions via dynamical laws. Based on this, we formulate a no-go theorem for the dynamics of classical particles, i.e., a Bell inequality for trajectories, and discuss its possible violation in a quantum scenario. A trajectory, however, is not an outcome of a quantum measurement, in the sense that there is no observable associated with it, and thus there is no "direct"experimental test of the Bell inequality for trajectories. Nevertheless, we show how to overcome this problem by considering a special case of our generic inequality that can be experimentally tested point-by-point in time. Such inequality is indeed violated by quantum mechanics, and the violation persists during an entire interval of time and not just at a particular singular instant. We interpret the violation to imply that trajectories (or at least pieces thereof) cannot exist predetermined, within a local-realistic theory.