- #1
_PJ_
- 230
- 15
I would really like some confirmation / clarification on the following points that I am trying to understand in terms of modern physics.
I would really appreciate if anyone might correct and complete my misunderstandings:
1 One can consider light as a wave.
2 As a particle, a photon may be considered as a single, "massless" particle.* Otherwise a single photon is a 'wave packet' - that is the waveform would be equivalent to that of combined, discrete frequencies.
3 A wave cannot have a single position, it's spread out - but Fourier analysis can resolve a frequency and therefore momentum. Measurements of a point particle in terms of momentum or position will render inaccurate any determination of the other. THESE points preserve and support the uncertainty principle
4 A photon of light emitted from a source assuming flat spacetime - any mass or energy densities of the source ignored, will radiate spherically (Assuming 3 dimensions of space)
Okay if all is good and well with the above, then:
Alice is radially x metres from the source with a convenient light detector.
Bob is radially x metres but antipodean from Alice with his own convenient light detector.
Alice, Bob and the source are all at rest relative to each other and neither are distorting spacetime (they're on really good diets and very cold)
Surely both will detect light 'simultaneously'?
IN which case, they will detect light as a point, and since they know their location, then the energy must be uncertain?
Each person's detection would resolve the nature of the light for each person respectively, so they may later compare notes and decide the light was emitted as two separate photons, each with its own particular discrete energies.
In which case, the two photons should also be understandably entangled?
I am really comfortable with the Double-Split experiment and the thought of infinite possibilities for a 'particle's paths with the equivalent but opposing paths cancelling, and with the smaller scale contributions to the Hamiltonian for Feynman diagrams - but this which shoudl be a far simpler system to consider has my brain in knots!
A <-----------------O-----------------> B
If the consideration of the radial displacement as vector being obviously opposite is a factor, then this would entirely cancel equally? What if Charlie was also detecting but orthogonal to AB?
I have heard that there is a principle of "monogamous entanglement", so if AB and C all decide later their results indicated photons, all 3 cannot be entangled?
___
I'm convinced there's some really trivial aspect I've overlooked that will clarify this whole picture, so I really welcome anyone who can help!
Thanks so much!
___
*The nature of dimensionless non-extent point particle is a separat argument. Right now I'm just concerned with being a particle or wave-
I would really appreciate if anyone might correct and complete my misunderstandings:
1 One can consider light as a wave.
2 As a particle, a photon may be considered as a single, "massless" particle.* Otherwise a single photon is a 'wave packet' - that is the waveform would be equivalent to that of combined, discrete frequencies.
3 A wave cannot have a single position, it's spread out - but Fourier analysis can resolve a frequency and therefore momentum. Measurements of a point particle in terms of momentum or position will render inaccurate any determination of the other. THESE points preserve and support the uncertainty principle
4 A photon of light emitted from a source assuming flat spacetime - any mass or energy densities of the source ignored, will radiate spherically (Assuming 3 dimensions of space)
Okay if all is good and well with the above, then:
Alice is radially x metres from the source with a convenient light detector.
Bob is radially x metres but antipodean from Alice with his own convenient light detector.
Alice, Bob and the source are all at rest relative to each other and neither are distorting spacetime (they're on really good diets and very cold)
Surely both will detect light 'simultaneously'?
IN which case, they will detect light as a point, and since they know their location, then the energy must be uncertain?
Each person's detection would resolve the nature of the light for each person respectively, so they may later compare notes and decide the light was emitted as two separate photons, each with its own particular discrete energies.
In which case, the two photons should also be understandably entangled?
I am really comfortable with the Double-Split experiment and the thought of infinite possibilities for a 'particle's paths with the equivalent but opposing paths cancelling, and with the smaller scale contributions to the Hamiltonian for Feynman diagrams - but this which shoudl be a far simpler system to consider has my brain in knots!
A <-----------------O-----------------> B
If the consideration of the radial displacement as vector being obviously opposite is a factor, then this would entirely cancel equally? What if Charlie was also detecting but orthogonal to AB?
I have heard that there is a principle of "monogamous entanglement", so if AB and C all decide later their results indicated photons, all 3 cannot be entangled?
___
I'm convinced there's some really trivial aspect I've overlooked that will clarify this whole picture, so I really welcome anyone who can help!
Thanks so much!
___
*The nature of dimensionless non-extent point particle is a separat argument. Right now I'm just concerned with being a particle or wave-