Quantum optical test of observation and complementarity in quantum mechanics

1989/05/01 by Marlan O. Scully, H. Walther · 1 voice · 4 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications

paper · doi:10.1103/physreva.39.5229

openalex publication_date 1989/05/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We propose and analyze experiments designed to probe the way in which the measurement process (the presence of a detector) influences the investigated system. These experiments are based on the fact that number states of the radiation field can be generated by the use of the micromaser and cavity quantum electrodynamics. It is shown that ``which-path'' (particle) information rules out interference (wave) effects due to the system-detector correlations and not due to a randomization of phase. Specific experiments based on neutron interferometry and quantum-beat techniques taken together with the micromaser are suggested and analyzed.

Cited by

• Indistinguishability and improper mixtures
• A coherent understanding of solvable models for quantum measurement processes
• On a possibility to find experimental evidence for the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics
• Decoherence in a double-slit quantum eraser

Discussions

• If it were possible to obtain information about the particle's position while maintaining the interference pattern created by the particle, I believe that, like in the Copenhagen interpretation, we co [stackexchange, 1 points]

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