The discussion centers on the double-slit experiment involving electrons, specifically addressing the impact of a detector on the interference pattern. It is established that if a detector is set up to determine which slit an electron passes through, the interference pattern is destroyed, regardless of whether the detector records a result. The concept of decoherence is crucial, as it is the interaction with the detector that leads to the loss of interference. A recommended reference for further understanding is the paper by Rueckner and Peidle, published in the American Journal of Physics.
PREREQUISITESStudents and researchers in quantum physics, particularly those interested in experimental quantum mechanics and the implications of measurement on quantum systems.
... In particular, the demonstration has been expanded to include a which-path marker and a quantum eraser - one can erase the which-path information to recover interference. The act of measurement and the design of the experiment affect what is being measured. Even if not actually measured, the mere possibility that an observer could determine which slit the photo passed through causes the interference pattern to switch to non-interference...