Co-relation between interference and polarization

Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 3K views
San K
Messages
905
Reaction score
1
Let's say we send two photons at same time through double slit:

Would interference pattern form if:

1. Both the photons are of different polarization? (i.e. one left polarized and the other right)
2. Both the photons are of same polarization?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
San K said:
Let's say we send two photons at same time through double slit:

Would interference pattern form if:

1. Both the photons are of different polarization? (i.e. one left polarized and the other right)
2. Both the photons are of same polarization?

1. There will be a degree of destructive interference, so a distorted pattern would emerge.
2. Yes.
 
DrChinese said:
1. There will be a degree of destructive interference, so a distorted pattern would emerge.
2. Yes.

thanks Dr Chinese.

now if we modify the double slit experiment (one photon at a time) as below:

1. we place a polarizer before the slits
2. we don't place a polarizer (i.e. simply the "classic" double slit, single photon at a time experiment)

Would the interference pattern between 1 and 2 look different?
 
San K said:
thanks Dr Chinese.

now if we modify the double slit experiment (one photon at a time) as below:

1. we place a polarizer before the slits
2. we don't place a polarizer (i.e. simply the "classic" double slit, single photon at a time experiment)

Would the interference pattern between 1 and 2 look different?

Should get an interference pattern in both cases.