We present a trajectory-based interpretation of Young's experiment, the Arago-Fresnel laws and the Poisson-Arago spot.This approach is based on the equation of the trajectory associated with the quantum probability current density in the case of massive particles, and the Poynting vector for the electromagnetic field in the case of photons.Both the form and properties of the evaluated photon trajectories are in good agreement with the averaged trajectories of single photons observed recently in Young's experiment by Steinberg's group at the University of Toronto.In the case of the Arago-Fresnel laws for polarized light, the trajectory interpretation presented here differs from interpretations based on the concept of 'which-way' (or 'which-slit') information and quantum erasure.More specifically, the observer's information about the slit that the photons went through is not relevant to the existence of interference; what is relevant is the form of the electromagnetic energy density and its evolution, which will model consequently the distribution of trajectories and their topology.Finally, we also show that the distributions of end points of a large number of evaluated photon trajectories are in agreement with the distributions measured at the screen behind a circular disc, clearly giving rise to the Poisson-Arago spot.
We present a trajectory-based interpretation of Young's experiment, the Arago-Fresnel laws and the Poisson-Arago spot.This approach is based on the equation of the trajectory associated with the quantum probability current density in the case of massive particles, and the Poynting vector for the electromagnetic field in the case of photons.Both the form and properties of the evaluated photon trajectories are in good agreement with the averaged trajectories of single photons observed recently in Young's experiment by Steinberg's group at the University of Toronto.In the case of the Arago-Fresnel laws for polarized light, the trajectory interpretation presented here differs from interpretations based on the concept of 'which-way' (or 'which-slit') information and quantum erasure.More specifically, the observer's information about the slit that the photons went through is not relevant to the existence of interference; what is relevant is the form of the electromagnetic energy density and its evolution, which will model consequently the distribution of trajectories and their topology.Finally, we also show that the distributions of end points of a large number of evaluated photon trajectories are in agreement with the distributions measured at the screen behind a circular disc, clearly giving rise to the Poisson-Arago spot.
Abstract Young’s double slit experiment and Poisson/Arago spot experiment revived the wave theory of the light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. Recently, the photon chamber has been proposed and utilized to study the behavior of photons near the detecting screen. The experiments show that the light, near the screen, behaves as photons propagating along the straight-line trajectories, and the trajectories distribute as waves. Furthermore, the photon chamber experiments show that, within certain macroscopic distance from the double slit, the pattern is non-interference, which indicates that the standard double slit experiments violate the standard wave interpretations. In this article, we show, the first time, that, within certain macroscopic distance from the ring, the pattern is non-interference, and how the non-interference pattern (near the ring) evolving to the interference pattern (far from the ring). The experiments show: (1) the nature of the patterns is distance-dependent; (2) to certain macroscopic distance from the ring, the light beams behave as particle; (3) when the distance increases, the non-interference pattern evolves to the interference pattern, i.e., the non-wave nature and the wave distribution coexist in the same wave experiment. The experiments: (1) provide novel phenomena/data for further theoretical development of the optics and for understanding the nature of the light.
Young’s double slit experiment and Poisson/Arago spot experiment revived the wave theory of the light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. Recently, the photon chamber has been proposed and utilized to study the behavior of photons near the detecting screen. The experiments show that the light, near the screen, behaves as photons propagating along the straight-line trajectories, and the trajectories distribute as waves. Furthermore, the photon chamber experiments show that, within certain macroscopic distance from the double slit, the pattern is non-interference, which indicates that the standard double slit experiments violate the standard wave interpretations. In this article, we show, the first time, that, within certain macroscopic distance from the ring, the pattern is non-interference, and how the non-interference pattern (near the ring) evolving to the interference pattern (far from the ring). blob:https://www.techrxiv.org/401bdd50-1361-4e46-892a-577f52ebac33 blob:https://www.techrxiv.org/7b37d541-ca7e-4ea4-ad7e-21e8698dd5b6 The experiments show: (1) the nature of the patterns is distance-dependent; (2) to certain macroscopic distance from the ring, the light beams behave as particle; (3) when the distance increases, the non-interference pattern evolves to the interference pattern, i.e., the non-wave nature and the wave distribution coexist in the same wave experiment. The experiments: (1) provide novel phenomena/data for further theoretical development of the optics and for understanding the nature of the light.
Young’s double slit experiment and Poisson/Arago spot experiment revived the wave theory of the light. The standard interpretation is that the light behaves as waves. Feynman called the double slit experiment the only mystery in quantum mechanics. Recently, the photon chamber has been proposed and utilized to study the behavior of photons near the detecting screen. The experiments show that the light, near the screen, behaves as photons propagating along the straight-line trajectories, and the trajectories distribute as waves. Furthermore, the photon chamber experiments show that, within certain macroscopic distance from the double slit, the pattern is non-interference, which indicates that the standard double slit experiments violate the standard wave interpretations. In this article, we show, the first time, that, within certain macroscopic distance from the ring, the pattern is non-interference, and how the non-interference pattern (near the ring) evolving to the interference pattern (far from the ring). blob:https://www.techrxiv.org/401bdd50-1361-4e46-892a-577f52ebac33 blob:https://www.techrxiv.org/7b37d541-ca7e-4ea4-ad7e-21e8698dd5b6 The experiments show: (1) the nature of the patterns is distance-dependent; (2) to certain macroscopic distance from the ring, the light beams behave as particle; (3) when the distance increases, the non-interference pattern evolves to the interference pattern, i.e., the non-wave nature and the wave distribution coexist in the same wave experiment. The experiments: (1) provide novel phenomena/data for further theoretical development of the optics and for understanding the nature of the light.
The mathematical representation of each of the four interference laws of Fresnel and Arago is presented. Each of the laws is characterized by a unique Stokes vector. These vectors are arrived at by a matrix analysis of the, interference experiments of Fresnel and Arago in which only polarizers are used. The historical motivation that led Stokes to introduce the parameters that now bear his name is noted. The similarity in the approach taken by Stokes to represent the fundamental properties of the classical optical field in terms of observables is compared with Heisenberg's approach to the formulation of quantum mechanics. The mathematical statements that characterize unpolarized light are developed. These statements are then used to determine the Stokes vectors that describe each of the four interference laws of Fresnel and Arago. In a final section of the paper the mathematical apparatus developed here is used to describe Young's interference experiment with unpolarized light.
Young’s double slit experiments, which represent the mystery of quantum mechanics, have been interpreted by quantum probability waves and by de Broglie-Bohm trajectories/pilot waves. Computer simulations of Bohm’s theory predict that (1) trajectories cannot cross, and (2) there is a triangle-shape area behind the double slit, in which there is no trajectory, i.e., no photons. In this article, we report the observations of novel comprehensive double slit experiments, which show that trajectories exist and cross in the triangular area. We show new phenomena that, in 2D cross double slit experiments and which way 2D cross double slit experiments, photons propagate along trajectories in the far field, and behave as particle and distribute as wave.
The Fresnel diffraction phenomenon referred to as Poisson's spot or spot of Arago has, beside its historical significance, become relevant in a number of fields. Among them are for example fundamental tests of the super-position principle in the transition from quantum to classical physics and the search for extra-solar planets using star shades. Poisson's spot refers to the positive on-axis wave interference in the shadow of any spherical or circular obstacle. While the spot's intensity is equal to the undisturbed field in the plane wave picture, its intensity in general depends on a number of factors, namely the size and wavelength of the source, the size and surface corrugation of the diffraction obstacle, and the distances between source, obstacle and detector. The intensity can be calculated by solving the Fresnel–Kirchhoff diffraction integral numerically, which however tends to be computationally expensive. We have therefore devised an analytical model for the on-axis intensity of Poisson's spot relative to the intensity of the undisturbed wave field and successfully validated it both using a simple light diffraction setup and numerical methods. The model will be useful for optimizing future Poisson-spot matter-wave diffraction experiments and determining under what experimental conditions the spot can be observed.