2014/06/17 by Jonathan Leach, Eliot Bolduc, Leach, Jonathan +9 · 1 citation
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum Physics (quant-ph)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1406.4300
openalex publication_date 2014/06/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The duality principle, a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, limits the coexistence of wave and particle behaviours of quantum systems. This limitation takes a quantitative form when applied to the visibility \mathcal V and predictability \mathcal P within a two-alternative system, which are bound by the inequality \mathcal V2+ \mathcal P2 ≤ 1. However, if such a system is coupled to its environment, it becomes possible to obtain conditional measures of visibility and predictability, i.e.~measures that are conditional on the state of the environment. We show that in this case, the predictability and visibility values can lead to an apparent violation of the duality principle. We experimentally realize this apparent violation in a controlled manner by enforcing a fair-sampling-like loophole via postselection. Given the ability to simultaneously obtain high predictability information and high visibility interference fringes for a wide range of coupling strengths and postselected states, this work highlights the role of fair-sampling in tests of the duality principle.