Related papers: Optical vortex knots - one photon at a time
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.…
The state of a two-particle system is called entangled when its quantum mechanical wave function cannot be factorized in two single-particle wave functions. Entanglement leads to the strongest counter-intuitive feature of quantum mechanics,…
It is proposed that the paradox of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics may be resolved using a physical picture analogous to magnetic domains. Within this picture, a quantum particle represents a coherent region of a quantum wave…
We collect the fluorescence from two trapped atomic ions, and measure quantum interference between photons emitted from the ions. The interference of two photons is a crucial component of schemes to entangle atomic qubits based on a…
Symmetry plays a central role in many areas of modern physics. Here we show that it also underpins the dual particle and wave nature of quantum systems. We begin by noting that a classical point particle breaks translational symmetry…
In last 50 years, a significant progress was noticed in medicine, communications and entertainment. Such advanced development of these fields was directly related to ability of controlling light. Photonics is exactly about this ability. At…
It was shown recently that entanglement of identical particles has a feature called dualism [Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 140404 (2013)], which is fundamentally connected with quantum indistinguishability. Here we report an experiment that…
In the history of quantum mechanics, much has been written about the double-slit experiment, and much debate as to its interpretation has ensued. Indeed, to explain the interference patterns for sub-atomic particles, explanations have been…
We experimentally observe that quantum duality of a single photon is controlled by its self-entanglement through a three-way quantum coherence identity $V^2+D^2+C^2=1$. Here V, D, C represent waveness, particleness, and self-entanglement…
A few years ago, diffraction of atoms by double slits and gratings was achieved for the first time, and standard optical wave-theory provided an excellent description of the experiments. More recently, diffraction of weakly bound molecules…
Light's wave-particle duality is at the heart of quantum mechanics and can be well illustrated by Wheeler's delayed-choice experiment. The choice of inserting or removing the second classical (quantum) beam splitter in a Mach-Zehnder…
Two-photon interference is a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics and stands at the base of numerous experimental observations. Here another manifestation of this phenomenon is described, taking place at a Y junction. Specifically it…
Compared to classical optical coherence theory based on Maxwell's electromagnetic theory and Glauber's quantum optical coherence theory based on matrix mechanics formulation of quantum mechanics, quantum optical coherence theory based on…
The quantum diffusion of a vortex in a two-component quantum fluid of light is investigated. In these systems, the Kerr nonlinearity promotes interactions between the photons, displaying features that are analogue of a Bose-Einstein…
In modern physics courses the idea of photon has been teaching through from the einsteinian formulation based on the photoelectric effect. Einstein's photon concept allow the quantization of the electromagnetic field, but does not dwell on…
A three-slit ghost interference experiment with entangled photons is theoretically analyzed using wave-packet dynamics. A non-local duality relation is derived which connects the path distinguishability of one photon to the interference…
The quantum mechanical wave-particle dualism is analyzed and criticized, in the framework of Reichenbach's concepts of phenomenon and interphenomenon. It is suggested that the dual pictures be de-emphasized in the study of quantum theory,…
The interference of two single photons impinging on a beam splitter is measured in a time-resolved manner. Using long photons of different frequencies emitted from an atom-cavity system, a quantum beat with a visibility close to 100% is…
Super-oscillation is a counter-intuitive phenomenon describing localized fast variations of functions and fields that happen at frequencies higher than the highest Fourier component of their spectra. The physical implications of the effect…
A textbook interpretation of quantum physics is that quantum objects can be described in a particle or a wave picture, depending on the operations and measurements performed. Beyond this widely held believe, we demonstrate in this…