Quantum Interference of Force
Quantum Physics
2018-12-18 v3
Abstract
We show that a quantum particle subjected to a positive force in one path of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and a null force in the other path may receive a negative average momentum transfer when it leaves the interferometer by a particular exit. In this scenario, an ensemble of particles may receive an average momentum in the opposite direction of the applied force due to quantum interference, a behavior with no classical analogue. We discuss some experimental schemes that could verify the effect with current technology, with electrons or neutrons in Mach-Zehnder interferometers in free space and with atoms from a Bose-Einstein condensate.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1802.10370,
title = {Quantum Interference of Force},
author = {Raul Corrêa and Marina F. B. Cenni and Pablo L. Saldanha},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1802.10370},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
5 figures. Accepted in Quantum on 2018-12-08