2018/07/30 by Bo-Sture Skagerstam, Bo-Sture K. Skagerstam, Skagerstam, Bo-Sture K.
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Classical mechanics #Context (archaeology) #Double-slit experiment #FOS: Physical sciences #Interpretations of quantum mechanics #Photon #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Quantum dynamics #Quantum mechanics #Quantum probability #Quantum process #Quantum superposition #Theoretical physics #Uncertainty principle #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1807.11586
arxiv created 2018/07/30 · openalex publication_date 2018/07/30 · arxiv updated 2018/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
It has been suggested by Sorkin that a three-slit Young experiment could reveal the validity a fundamental ingredient in the foundations of one of the cornerstones in modern physics namely quantum mechanics. In terms of a certain parameter κS, it was argued that a non-zero value could imply a breakdown of the fundamental Born's rule as well as the superposition principle. Here we argue that a physical realization of such arguments could lead to an erroneous conclusion and contradict the basic rules of quantum mechanics. In fact, we argue that a proper interpretation of the procedures involved in a physical determination of κS does not necessarily lead to κS=0. In order to show this we consider a mono-chromatic source of photons prepared in an \it arbitrary quantum state and a simple version of the well-established photon detection theory of Glauber which, by construction, obeys all the rules of quantum mechanics. It is, however, also argued that after a proper identification of the relevant quantum-mechanical probability amplitudes one can be reach κS=0. As long as one only consider a single photon detector, it is verified that, in this context, there is no fundamental difference between quantum-mechanical interference and interference as expressed in terms of classical electro-magnetic waves.