- #1
Dadface
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I have been looking up the practical details of certain quantum eraser type experiments and got stuck on a couple of points. I refer to a particular experiment which can be found by googling:
"A DOUBLE SLIT QUANTUM ERASER EXPERIMENT" (Sorry I don't know how to include the address)
In the experiment which path information is achieved by placing quarter wave plates in front of the slits. It is claimed that the function of the plates is to change the linear polarisation of the incoming photon into circular polarisation, the direction of which depends on which of the two plates the photon passes through.
That seems to make sense but isn't elliptical polarisation the more likely outcome? I thought that circular polarisation was a special case when the plane of the electric vector of the incident photon was at 45 degrees to the principle axis of the plate. Furthermore I thought that the plane of polarisation of the photon wasn't known until it was detected.
It may be a trivial point but It's making me wonder if I'm overlooking something.
Thanks
"A DOUBLE SLIT QUANTUM ERASER EXPERIMENT" (Sorry I don't know how to include the address)
In the experiment which path information is achieved by placing quarter wave plates in front of the slits. It is claimed that the function of the plates is to change the linear polarisation of the incoming photon into circular polarisation, the direction of which depends on which of the two plates the photon passes through.
That seems to make sense but isn't elliptical polarisation the more likely outcome? I thought that circular polarisation was a special case when the plane of the electric vector of the incident photon was at 45 degrees to the principle axis of the plate. Furthermore I thought that the plane of polarisation of the photon wasn't known until it was detected.
It may be a trivial point but It's making me wonder if I'm overlooking something.
Thanks