Entanglement and Properties of Composite Quantum Systems: a Conceptual and Mathematical Analysis

Abstract

Various topics concerning the entanglement of composite quantum systems are considered with particular emphasis concerning the strict relations of such a problem with the one of attributing objective properties to the constituents. Most of the paper deals with composite systems in pure states. After a detailed discussion and a precise formal analysis of the case of systems of distinguishable particles, the problems of entanglement and the one of the properties of subsystems of systems of identical particles are thourougly discussed. This part is the most interesting and new and it focuses various subtle questions which have never been adequately discussed in the literature. Some inappropriate assertions which appeared in recent papers are analyzed. The relations of the main subject of the paper with the nonlocal aspects of quantum mechanics, as well as with the possibility of deriving Bell's inequality are also considered.