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EPR PhysRev
EPR PhysRev
DESC
RI PT ION OF
MAY
15, 1935
PH
Can Quantum-Mechanical
A. EINsTEIN,
4'7,
536
VOLUM E
4 7
B. PQDoLsKY
AND
of a physical
consideration
NY serious
theory must take into account the distinction between the objective reality, which is
of any theory, and the physical
independent
concepts with which the theory operates. These
concepts are intended to correspond with the
objective reality, and by means of these concepts
we picture this reality to ourselves.
In attempting to judge the success of a
physical theory, we may ask ourselves two questions: (1) "Is the theory correct?" and (2) "Is
the description given by the theory complete?"
It is only in the case in which positive answers
may be given to both of these questions, that the
concepts of the theory may be said to be satisfactory. The correctness of the theory is judged
by the degree of agreement between the conclusions of the theory and human experience.
This experience, which alone enables us to make
inferences about reality, in physics takes the
form of experiment and measurement. It is the
second question that we wish to consider here, as
applied to quantum mechanics.
PH
have
a counter
E I NSTE I
778
N,
PODOLSKY
it occur. Regarded
e (pre/ p) ppg
(2)
p = (h/2rri) 8/Bx,
we obtain
p'
= pp = (h/2iri)
8$/Bx
= p pp
(4)
Thus, in the state given by Eq. (2), the momentum has certainly the value pp. It thus has
meaning to say that the momentum of . the particle in the state given by Eq. (2) is real.
On the other hand if Eq. (1) does not hold,
we can no longer speak of the physical quantity
A having a particular value. This is the case, for
example, with the coordinate of the particle. The
operator corresponding to it, say g, is the operator
of multiylication by the independent variable.
Thus,
ROSE N
AN D
In accordance with
only say that the
measurement of the
lying between a and
P(a,
b)
PPdx=
dx=b
a. (6)
PH
YS I CAL REALITY
2.
For this purpose let us suppose that we have
two systems, I and II, which we permit to interact from the time t =0 to t = T, after which time
we suppose that there is no longer any interaction
between the two parts. We suppose further that
the states of the two systems before t=0 were
known. We can then calculate with the help of
Schrodinger's equation the state of the combined
system I+II at any subsequent time; in particular, for any
T. Let us designate the cor-
t)
process.
779
4'(x),
xm)
=Q
s=l
((),(x2) v, (x(),
by
(.()
e(2&&ih) (&s
&2+&o) ndp
co
where x0 is some constant. Let A be the momentum of the first particle; then, as we have seen
in Eq. (4), its eigenfunctions will be
(x )
e(2m(/h) yes,
(io)
780
%(x(, xg)
P(x,)u, (x))dP,
4
where
(x ) s
This Phowever
operator
is the eigenfunction
P = (8/2')(7/Bx2,
(12)
of the
(13)
to the eigenvalue
corresponding
x, where
delta-function.
well-known
Dirac
the
is
()(xq
x)
Eq. (8) in this case becomes
where
F2+$0) gldp
e(21r i/h) (x
is the eigenfunction
of the
(17)
corresponding to the eigenvalue x+xo of the
coordinate of the second particle. Since
PQ
QP = 1(/2mi,
quantities.
Returning now to the general case contemplated in Eqs. (7) and (8),. we assume that P),
and yare indeed eigenfunctions of some noncommuting operators P and Q, corresponding to
the eigenvalues pI, and q, respectively. Thus, by
measuring either A or 8 we are in a position to
predict with certainty, and without in any way