Linear-optical test of quantum contextuality with sequential measurements

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2605.18112v1
• Date: Mon, 18 May 2026 09:20:37 GMT
• Title: Linear-optical test of quantum contextuality with sequential measurements
• Abstract summary: Quantum contextuality provides a signature of nonclassical behavior that cannot be explained by noncontextual hidden-variable models.<n>We propose and experimentally implement a linear-optical setup for demonstrating Kochen-Specker contextuality via a violation of the KCBS inequality using single photons.
• Score: 3.6775138500665387
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: Quantum contextuality provides a fundamental signature of nonclassical behavior that cannot be explained by noncontextual hidden-variable models. We propose and experimentally implement a linear-optical setup for demonstrating Kochen-Specker contextuality via a violation of the KCBS inequality using single photons. Our scheme employs sequential measurements realized with linear-optical networks and on-off photodetectors. The construction ensures that each co-measured observable is implemented by the same physical operation across different contexts. Our experimental results demonstrate a clear violation of the KCBS inequality and robustness against photon loss. Beyond fundamental investigations, the proposed setup provides a practical tool for probing non-classicality and photon-number statistics of quantum states, which in turn enables the verification of single-photon sources.

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