Related papers: Asking photons where have they been
A century after its conception, quantum mechanics still hold surprises that contradict many "common sense" notions. The contradiction is especially sharp in case one consider trajectories of truly quantum objects such as single photons.…
A nested interferometer experiment by Danan et al (2013) is discussed and some claims evaluated concerning the whereabouts of the photon, primarily in the context of time-symmetric interpretations of quantum theory including the Two-State…
Although there is no consensus regarding the "reality" of the past of a quantum particle, in situations where there is only one trajectory with nonvanishing quantum wave of the particle between its emission and detection points, it seems…
Kocsis et al. (Science, Reports 3 June 2011, p. 1170) state that the experimentally deduced average photon trajectories are identical to the particle trajectories of Bohm's quantum mechanics. No supporting evidence, however, was provided.…
In this article we try to describe the physics of a standard optical interferometer fed by "quantum" photons in terms of primitive, nevertheless accurate formulation. We derive explicit interferene patterns and show how they vary depending…
Vaidman's analysis of the photon's past is based on incorrect interpretation of quantum probability amplitudes. The confusion stems from his original work [{\it Phys. Rev. Lett.} \textbf{60}, 1351 (1988)], which missed the connection…
By using the nonuniform discrete Fourier transform on the center positions of the symmetric intensity distribution of the output beam, we recover the vibration information of two mirrors, which is lost in the analysis of Danan \emph{et al.}…
A neutron optical experiment is presented to investigate the paths taken by neutrons in a three-beam interferometer. In various beam-paths of the interferometer, the energy of the neutrons is partially shifted so that the faint traces are…
Following earlier applications of weak measurement to new cases (Part I), we proceed to explore its temporal peculiarities. We analyze an idealized experiment in which weak which-path measurements do not prevent consecutive weak…
The recent criticism of Vaidman's propsal for the analysis of the past of a particle in the nested interferometer is refuted. It is shown that the definition of the past of the particle adopted by Englert et al. [Phys. Rev. A 96, 022126…
Vaidman, Phys.Rev. A 87, 052104 (2013), has proposed a weak value criterion for the past of a quantum particle, and applied it to photons in a particular setup of nested Mach-Zehnder interferometers. From his analysis, he draws some…
In this paper, we present a coherent state-vector method which can explain the results of a nested linear Mach-Zehnder Interferometric experiment. Such interferometers are used widely in Quantum Information and Quantum Optics experiments…
The quest to have both which-path knowledge and interference fringes in a double-slit experiment dates back to the inception of quantum mechanics (QM) and to the famous Einstein-Bohr debates. In this paper we propose and discuss an…
In optical experiments involving a single photon that takes alternative paths through an optical system and ultimately interferes with itself (e.g., Young's double-slit experiment, Mach-Zehnder interferometer, Sagnac interferometer), there…
Interesting objections to conclusions of our experiment with nested interferometers raised by Salih in a recent Commentary are analysed and refuted.
Misinterpretation in the preceding Comment of my recent analysis of the past of a photon is corrected. There is nothing in this analysis which is "contrary to the usual quantum expectations" but, nevertheless, it does provide "further…
We present an analysis of a double Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which an ensemble of identical pre- and postselected particles leave a weak trace. A knowledge of the weak value partially destroys the quantum interference. The results,…
The Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) is chosen to illustrate the long-standing wave particle duality problem. Why is which-way (welcher weg) information incompatible with wave interference? How to explain Wheeler's delayed choice…
The quantum "mystery which cannot go away" (in Feynman's words) of wave-particle duality is illustrated in a striking way by Wheeler's delayed-choice GedankenExperiment. In this experiment, the configuration of a two-path interferometer is…
Multi-photon interference reveals strictly non-classical phenomena. Its applications range from fundamental tests of quantum mechanics to photonic quantum information processing, where a significant fraction of key experiments achieved so…