Why don't the interference plots of the delayed-choice quantum eraser go to zero?

[tvhiggins]

In the original paper on the delayed-choice quantum eraser by Kim et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 1 (2000)], the plots of the joint detection rates shown in Figures 3 & 4 do not go to zero. Not even close. I've always wondered about that. The authors don't address it, and I haven't seen any explanation of it elsewhere. In the classic double-slit experiment, intensities go to zero (or close to it) at the nodes of the interference pattern.

Let me just say that I believe I have a fairly simple explanation for why the plots don't go to zero, but I hesitate to share it here because the links to my two papers on this are located on my website. I don't want to trigger some arbitrary spam filter or violate any rules of this forum.

However, I have found that my attempts to answer this key question gave me much more insight into the workings of the experiment. I would love to hear your thoughts on this and share mine, if you're interested...

 

[Nugatory]

Let me just say that I believe I have a fairly simple explanation for why the plots don't go to zero, but I hesitate to share it here because the links to my two papers on this are located on my website. I don't want to trigger some arbitrary spam filter or violate any rules of this forum.

The forum rules don’t allow posting personal work that has not been published in an appropriate peer-reviewed journal…. So yes, you are right about not linking to your papers.
Your question - why don’t the counts go to zero? - is of course in bounds for discussion here.