Double slit with time measurement

[Cthugha]

The experiment above is about the same as a double slit.

No, it is clearly not. A double slit measures spatial coherence. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer measures temporal coherence. These are two different quantities which are not "about the same".

A spatial detector which can show waves.

And what is that supposed to be? I do not think this thread is going anywhere and you do not seem to be willing to understand the things in detail or read up on them, so I am afraid this is getting pointless.

 

[DParlevliet]

No, it is clearly not. A double slit measures spatial coherence. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer measures temporal coherence. These are two different quantities which are not "about the same".

If a single photon from the sun goes through a double slit, then the coherence time of each wave, going through each slit, is in the femtosecond range?

 

[Cthugha]

It does not matter what you do to it. Unless you filter the light spectrally, you always get a coherence time of maybe 100 femtoseconds or something like that for light from the sun.

Whether you will see an interference pattern or not still depends on spatial coherence, though. So for example it matters strongly, whether you place a pinhole to filter the light.

 

[Bone234]

It does not matter what you do to it. Unless you filter the light spectrally, you always get a coherence time of maybe 100 femtoseconds or something like that for light from the sun.

Whether you will see an interference pattern or not still depends on spatial coherence, though. So for example it matters strongly, whether you place a pinhole to filter the light.

I would give up, the fact you haven't though strongly indicates your patience, so kudos.

 

[Bone234]

If a single photon from the sun goes through a double slit, then the coherence time of each wave, going through each slit, is in the femtosecond range?

It's in the Planck range actually but meh...

 

[DParlevliet]

It does not matter what you do to it. Unless you filter the light spectrally, you always get a coherence time of maybe 100 femtoseconds or something like that for light from the sun.

Of course a spectral filter is needed because one needs monochromatic light. It must be as much as possible be comparable with single photons, so not broad bandwith. Does that matter much?

 

[Cthugha]

Of course a spectral filter is needed because one needs monochromatic light. It must be as much as possible be comparable with single photons, so not broad bandwith. Does that matter much?

Eh? Single photons are Fock states with a fixed photon number of 1. That is all there is. They do not have to be monochromatic. They often are far from that in reality. Sorry, but Bone234 seems to be right. This discussion seems entirely pointless.

 

[Dale]

closed for moderation