Testing quantum nonlocality by generalized quasiprobability functions

Abstract

We derive a Bell inequality based on a generalized quasiprobability function, which is parametrized by one nonpositive real value. Two types of known Bell inequalities formulated in terms of the Wigner and the Q functions are included as limiting cases. We investigate violations of our Bell inequalities for single-photon entangled states and two-mode squeezed vacuum states when varying the detector efficiency. We show that the Bell inequality for the Q function allows the lowest detection efficiency for violations of local realism. © 2009 The American Physical Society.