Truncated Photon

2025/10/24 by Isak Cecil Onsager Rukan, Jan Gulla, Rukan, Isak Cecil Onsager +3 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Computer Science · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Elementary particle #Near-Field Optical Microscopy #Photon #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #State (computer science) #Superposition principle #Two-photon excitation microscopy

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/94pm-hp34

openalex publication_date 2026/05/18 · openalex created_date 2026/05/19 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

An elementary particle such as a photon cannot be cut in two pieces. Still it must be possible to truncate a photon with an optical shutter. The result is neither another photon nor a mix of a photon and a vacuum. Instead it is a superposition and mix of photon numbers up to infinity. This state is rather complicated, but nevertheless locally equivalent to a single photon or vacuum to the left and right, respectively, of a narrow transition region.

Cited by

• Time-energy uncertainty relation from subcycle mode vacuum fluctuations of a quantum field

Discussions

• Babe, wake up. New photon torpedo just dropped "The result is neither another photon nor a mix of a photon and a vacuum. Instead it is a superposition and mix of photon numbers up to infinity." Phys [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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