The discussion revolves around the implications of measuring the momentum of a beamsplitter in quantum interference experiments, particularly whether such measurements would destroy the interference pattern created by photons taking different paths. The scope includes theoretical considerations of quantum mechanics, entanglement, and the behavior of macroscopic objects in quantum systems.
Participants express differing views on whether measuring the beamsplitter's momentum would collapse the superposition of photon states and affect the interference pattern. There is no consensus on the implications of such measurements, and the discussion remains unresolved.
Participants assume that the beamsplitter is macroscopic and consider the implications of its measurement on quantum interference. There are unresolved questions regarding the precise conditions under which measurements would affect the quantum states involved.
PeroK said:Wouldn't you also need to know the initial momentum of the photon? Measuring the recoil on the disc would give you (at best) the change in momentum of the photon.
In any case, I found this paper (which looks quite interesting) and has a discussion of this with reference to the Bohr-Einstein debates.
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/701/1/012007/pdf
PeterDonis said:This is all speculative and has no prospect of being tested experimentally any time soon.