NONLOCALITY OF THE ORIGINAL EINSTEIN-PODOLSKY-ROSEN STATE

We examine the properties and behavior of the original Einstein-Podols ky-Rosen (EPR) wave function [Phys. Rev. 47, 777 (1935)] and related G aussian-correlated wave functions. We assess the degree of entanglemen t of these wave functions and consider an argument of Bell [Ann.(N.Y.) Acad. Sci. 480, 263(1986)] based on the Wigner phase-space distributi on [Phys. Rev. 40, 749 (1932)], which implies that the original EPR co rrelations can accommodate a local hidden-variable description. We ext end Bell's analysis to the related Gaussian wave functions. We then sh ow that it is possible to identify definite nonlocal aspects for the o riginal EPR state and related states. We describe possible experiments that would demonstrate these nonlocal features through violations of Bell inequalities. The implications of our results, and in particular their relevance for the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics, ar e considered. [S1050-2947(97)04611-8].