Dual form of the phase-space classical simulation problem in quantum optics

Abstract

In quantum optics, nonclassicality of quantum states is commonly associated with negativities of phase-space quasiprobability distributions. We argue that the impossibility of any classical simulations with phase-space functions is a necessary and sufficient condition of nonclassicality. The problem of such phase-space classical simulations for particular measurement schemes is analysed in the framework of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen-Bell's principles of physical reality. The dual form of this problem results in an analogue of Bell inequalities. Their violations imply the impossibility of phase-space classical simulations and, as a consequence, nonclassicality of quantum states. We apply this technique to emblematic optical measurements such as photocounting, including the cases of realistic photon-number resolution and homodyne detection in unbalanced, balanced, and eight-port configurations.