Experimental Realization of Popper's Experiment - Violation of The Uncertainty Principle?
Yanhua H. Shih, Yoon-Ho Kim
Uncertainty, being perhaps the most basic principle of quantum mechanics, distinguishes the world of quantum phenomena from the realm of classical physics. Quantum entanglement, being perhaps the most surprising consequence of quantum mechanics, on the other hand apparently suggests paradoxes relating to or violations of the quantum mechanical uncertainty principle in some experimental situations. Popper's thought experiment is an example. We wish to report a recent realization of Popper's experiment. The experimental data show that there appears to be a violation of the uncertainty principle. This is, however as we shall argue in this paper, only an illusion provided that we take the teachings of quantum mechanics seriously.
Fortschritte der Physik•May 1, 2000•37 citations