Non-interfered vs interfered photons

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter San K
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Photons
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the properties of photons emerging from a double-slit experiment, specifically comparing those that are detected with which-way information to those that are not. Participants explore whether these conditions affect the photons' characteristics such as energy, intensity, spin, and momentum.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if there is a difference in properties of photons based on whether which-way information is available, suggesting that self-interference might lead to different properties.
  • Another participant introduces the idea of Wheeler's delayed choice experiment, asking if photons can "know" the future setup of detectors, implying a need for a non-magical explanation of photon behavior.
  • Some participants assert that there is no difference in the nature of photons regardless of their history, claiming that a photon remains a photon and that its energy does not change based on the experimental setup.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the impact of which-way information on photon properties. Some argue that there is no difference, while others propose that the conditions of measurement could influence the photons' characteristics.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference different interpretations of quantum mechanics, such as de Broglie's pilot wave theory, which may influence their views on the nature of photons in this context.

San K
Messages
905
Reaction score
1
It seems that - I am getting conflicting information from the forum posts about the above topic.

Is there any difference in the properties (such as energy, intensity, spin, momentum etc):

of a photon that emerges from a double slit

without which-way
Vs
which-way?

or in other words

does a photon strike with a different energy on the screen when which-way known vs no-detector.

or in other words

does a self-interfered photon have properties that are different from a non-self-interfered photon?....other than the fact that a self-interfered photon will land up on fringes instead of the "two blobs" in front of the two slits.

or in other words

does superposition result in any change in the properties of a photon?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
... or in other words

while entering double-slit, do photon knows how detector will be set in the future in Wheeler's setup?

I don't think we need this kind of magic and it is not required in de Broglie's interpretation - particles are conjugated with waves they create: corpuscle goes a single path, these "pilot" waves go simultaneously through all paths - eventually interacting with the corpuscle which created them, what can lead to interference if the measurement device is properly set in the time of measurement ...
 
No, no difference. A photon is a photon, no matter its history, so whether one or both slits were open will not change the nature of the photons.
 
dauto said:
No, no difference. A photon is a photon, no matter its history, so whether one or both slits were open will not change the nature of the photons.

so no change in energy of the photon...

thanks dauto.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
  • · Replies 64 ·
3
Replies
64
Views
6K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
898
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
3K
  • · Replies 81 ·
3
Replies
81
Views
8K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K