Published September 10, 2012 | Version v1
Journal article

EPR before EPR: a 1930 Einstein-Bohr thought experiment revisited

  • 1. Theoretical Physics Division, Rudjer Bošković Institute, PO Box 180, HR-10002 Zagreb (Croatia)

Description

In 1930, Einstein argued against the consistency of the time-energy uncertainty relation by discussing a thought experiment involving a measurement of the mass of the box which emitted a photon. Bohr seemingly prevailed over Einstein by arguing that Einstein's own general theory of relativity saves the consistency of quantum mechanics. We revisit this thought experiment from a modern point of view at a level suitable for an undergraduate readership and find that neither Einstein nor Bohr was correct. Instead, this thought experiment should be thought of as an early example of a system demonstrating nonlocal 'EPR' quantum correlations, five years before the famous Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paper. (paper)

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807/33/5/1089

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
European Journal of Physics
Journal Volume
33
Journal Issue
5
Journal Page Range
p. 1089-1097
ISSN
0143-0807
CODEN
EJPHD4

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
43128293
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
CORRELATIONS; ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE; MASS; PHOTONS; QUANTUM MECHANICS
Descriptors DEC
BOSONS; ELEMENTARY PARTICLES; MAGNETIC RESONANCE; MASSLESS PARTICLES; MECHANICS; RESONANCE