ua nt - p h / 99 08 03 9 v 1 1 2 A ug 1 99 9 Quantum perfect correlations and Hardy ’ s nonlocality theorem ∗

In this paper the failure of Hardy’s nonlocality proof for the class of maximally entangled states is considered. A detailed analysis shows that the incompatibility of the Hardy equations for this class of states physically originates from the fact that the existence of quantum perfect correlations for the three pairs of two-valued observables (D11,D21), (D11,D22), and (D12,D21) [in the sense of having with certainty equal (different) readings for a joint measurement of any one of the pairs (D11,D21), (D11,D22), and (D12,D21)], necessarily entails perfect correlation for the pair of observables (D12,D22) [in the sense of having with certainty equal (different) readings for a joint measurement of the pair (D12,D22)]. Indeed, the set of these four perfect correlations is found to satisfy the CHSH inequality, and then no violations of local realism will arise for the maximally entangled state as far as the four observables Dij , i, j = 1 or 2, are concerned. The connection between this fact and the impossibility for the quantum mechanical predictions to give the maximum possible theoretical violation of the CHSH inequality is pointed out. Moreover, it is generally proved that the fulfillment of all the Hardy nonlocality conditions necessarily entails ∗This paper has been originally published in: J.L. Cereceda, Found. Phys. Lett. 12(3), 211-231 (1999).