A modified Mach-Zehnder experiment to test the applicability of quantum theory to single-particle experiments

K. Michielsen; Th. Lippert; M. Richter; B. Barbara; S. Miyashita; H. De Raedt

doi:10.1117/12.887643

28 September 2011 A modified Mach-Zehnder experiment to test the applicability of quantum theory to single-particle experiments

K. Michielsen, Th. Lippert, M. Richter, B. Barbara, S. Miyashita, H. De Raedt

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8121, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? IV; 812104 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.887643
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2011, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We propose a modified single-particle Mach-Zehnder interferometer experiment in which the path length of one arm may change (randomly or systematically) according to the value of an external two-valued variable x, for each passage of a particle through the interferometer. Quantum theory predicts an interference pattern that is independent of the sequence of the values of x. On the other hand, corpuscular models that reproduce the results of quantum optics experiments carried out up to this date show a reduced visibility and a shift of the interference pattern depending on the details of the sequence of the values of x. The key question to be answered in a real laboratory experiment is: Which interference pattern is observed? Despite the general believe that quantum theory might be used to describe all single particle experiments, this is an interesting question to be answered since in the proposed experiment the experimental conditions not only continuously change but they might also have causal effects on the passage of the photons through the interferometer. The proposed experiment can be used to determine to what extent quantum theory provides a description of observed events beyond the usual statistical level.

Citation Download Citation

K. Michielsen, Th. Lippert, M. Richter, B. Barbara, S. Miyashita, and H. De Raedt "A modified Mach-Zehnder experiment to test the applicability of quantum theory to single-particle experiments", Proc. SPIE 8121, The Nature of Light: What are Photons? IV, 812104 (28 September 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.887643

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
15 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Photons

Quantum physics

Sensors

Particles

Beam splitters

Solids

Data modeling

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years