Journal Article

PreJuSER-18806

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Proposal for an Interference Experiment to Test the Applicability of Quantum Theory to Event-Based Processes

Michielsen, K.FZJ* ; Lippert, T.FZJ* ; Richter, M.FZJ* ; Barbara, B. ; Mijashita, S. ; De Raedt, H.

2012
The Physical Society of Japan Tokyo

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1143/JPSJ.81.034001

Abstract: We analyze a single-particle Mach-Zehnder interferometer experiment in which the path length of one arm may change (randomly or systematically) according to the value of an external two-valued variable x, for each passage of a particle through the interferometer. Quantum theory predicts an interference pattern that is independent of the sequence of the values of x. On the other hand, corpuscular models that reproduce the results of quantum optics experiments carried out to date show a reduced visibility and a shift of the interference pattern depending on the details of the sequence of the values of x. The proposed experiment will show that: (1) it can be described by quantum theory, and thus not by the current corpuscular models, or (2) it cannot be described by quantum theory but can be described by the corpuscular models or variations thereof, or (3) it can neither be described by quantum theory nor by corpuscular models. Therefore, the proposed experiment can be used to determine the extent to which quantum theory provides a description of observed events beyond the usual statistical level.

Keyword(s): J ; quantum mechanics (auto) ; interference (auto) ; Mach-Zehnder interferometer (auto)

Note: We thank F. Jin and K. De Raedt for discussions. This work is partially supported by NCF, the Netherlands, by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas, and the Next Generation Super Computer Project, Nanoscience Program from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC)

Research Program(s):

1. Scientific Computing (FUEK411) (FUEK411)
2. 411 - Computational Science and Mathematical Methods (POF2-411) (POF2-411)

Appears in the scientific report 2012

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Database coverage:
Current Contents - Social and Behavioral Sciences ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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