Photons at same place at the same time

In summary, In general, photons can be in any location at any time, and the path-integral approach to quantum mechanics is incorrect when it comes to photons.
  • #1
bassplayer142
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I have a friend who told me about a tv show he just watched that claimed to do just this. I can't find any information and we don't have a name so I don't have much to go by. If anyone know of recent advances or if this is nothing new I wouldn't mind a few links or something. I guess they also said something about the proof of parallel universes because of it. thanks.
 
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  • #2
just waiting for a bite of that apple

has anyone put forth this notion of relativity applying to photons in the slit test...saying that photons are existing relative to space and time seperately (and simultaneously) and that we as observers can only observe the photon relative to spacetime. could the interference pattern of photons traveling through the two slits be explained by saying the photon we send, we observe existing in spacetime (one photon)...the photon relative to time would travel through one slot, the photon relative to space can only travel through the other one (or perhaps with the notion that both time and space are infinite, the photon exists everywhere relative to space, and also exists infinitely relative to time, allowing each slot to be traveled through)...once on the other side we observe the spacetime photon which has interfered with itself , one relative to time, one relative to space. space and time interfering to be observed as a wave in spacetime.
 
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  • #3
Bassplayer...youtube.com , search quantum physics, there are a few cartoons that illustrate these ideas simply...then try the books "einstein for beginners", "the elegant universe", and "warped passages" they may offer some insight before attending a university.
 
  • #4
bassplayer142 said:
I have a friend who told me about a tv show he just watched that claimed to do just this. I can't find any information and we don't have a name so I don't have much to go by. If anyone know of recent advances or if this is nothing new I wouldn't mind a few links or something. I guess they also said something about the proof of parallel universes because of it. thanks.

Yes, many photons can be at the same place at the same time -- this follows from the invariance of Bose states under interchange of particles. Look up Bose Condensation and Superfluidity, both of which involve lots of zero-momentum bosons -- same place can apply equally well to configuration and momentum spaces.
Regards,
Reilly Atkinson
 
  • #5
you cannot really say anything about a photon, including its location, in between the time it is emitted and the time it is absorbed.
 
  • #6
jnorman said:
you cannot really say anything about a photon, including its location, in between the time it is emitted and the time it is absorbed.

If what you say is true, then the entire apparatus of the path-integral approach would be incorrect.
Regards,
Reilly Atkinson
 
  • #7
hi reilly - i stand by my comment. do you wish to further illuminate your position on this?
 
  • #8
Basic QM says a wave function defines a probability density in its defining space. This holds for photons as well as for massive particles. A probability density in configuration space, suitably integrated, gives the probability to find a photon anyplace you want. Indeed, there are some tricky points -- photons cannot be localized, but they can be almost localized. This and other subtle points can be found, extensively discussed, in Optical Coherence and Quantum Optics, Mandel and Wolf. That is, we know the in-between for a photon in terms of probability.

Regards,
Reilly Atkinson
 
  • #9
hi reilly - i guess i would dispute the comment that they can almost be localized. my understanding is that photons travel by all possible paths, and it certainly seems intuitive considering that since they "travel" at C, where distance and time have no meaning, that once emitted, a photon occupies all of space time until it is again absorbed. feynman's path integral based on probablility is a reasonable way of predicting where a photon might end up, but really says nothing about which path it actually took to get there. i used to argue your side of this myself, but have been beaten down by others who i consider more knowlegdeable than me.
 

1. What does it mean for photons to be at the same place at the same time?

When we say photons are at the same place at the same time, it means that they are occupying the exact same position in space and arriving at that position simultaneously. This is a unique phenomenon in quantum mechanics and cannot be explained by classical physics.

2. Is it possible for photons to be at the same place at the same time?

Yes, it is possible for photons to be at the same place at the same time. This phenomenon is known as photon bunching and it occurs when photons are emitted from the same source and travel in the same direction. However, it is a rare occurrence and requires specific conditions to be met.

3. How do scientists know if photons are at the same place at the same time?

Scientists use a technique called photon correlation spectroscopy to determine if photons are at the same place at the same time. This involves measuring the time delay between the arrival of photons at a detector. If the time delay is zero, it indicates that the photons are at the same place at the same time.

4. What are the implications of photons being at the same place at the same time?

This phenomenon has important implications in fields such as quantum computing and quantum cryptography. It also helps us to understand the nature of light and the behavior of particles at a subatomic level.

5. Can photons be at the same place at the same time in different dimensions?

It is currently not possible to answer this question as the concept of dimensions beyond our three-dimensional world is still a topic of theoretical research. However, some theories suggest that photons can exist in multiple dimensions simultaneously, which could potentially allow them to be at the same place at the same time in different dimensions.

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