Angular correlation of scattered annihilation photons, to test the possibility of hidden variables in quantum theory

Abstract

Angular correlations of the annihilation photons, Compton scattered by plastic scintillators and detected by means of NaI (T1) crystals, have been measured in order to test the possibility of deviations of the experimental results from the predictions of the quantum theory.

In fact, Jauch and Bohm, starting with different motivations, both arrive at the possibility of a lower correlation ratio between the two orthogonal polarization states of the two photons than predicted by quantum theory.

This in turn should give a lower azimuthal anisotropy in the angular correlations. Our experimental results compared with the theoretical predictions, after correction for finite geometry by means of a Montecarlo method, do not confirm quantum theory and exclude the hypotheses of Jauch and of Bohm.

We are continuing the experiment in order to test wether the breakdown in the polarization correlation depends on the distance (spatial and/or temporal) between the two correlated scattering events, as suggested by Jauch.