Nonclassical correlations of radiation in relation to Bell nonlocality

We analyze nonclassical correlations between outcomes of measurements conducted on two spatial radiation modes. These correlations cannot be simulated with statistical mixtures of coherent states or, more generally, with non-negative phase-space functions of quantum states and measurements. We argue that nonclassical correlations are naturally related to Bell nonlocality, the former being a more general class of quantum correlations. Indeed, it is known that local realistic as well as noncontextual models correspond to non-negative solutions to a system of linear equations for the joint probability distributions of all observables. We demonstrate that nonclassical correlations correspond to a particular solution to this system, which may have negative values even if local realism is not violated. A modification of Bell inequalities enables us to test such correlations. At the same time, our approach leads to a formulation of Bell inequalities applicable also to continuous variables. The results are illustrated with two-mode squeezed vacuum states and with hybrid entangled states (Schrödinger-Cat states), one mode being analyzed by balanced and the other one by unbalanced homodyne detection.