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European Journal of Physics

A portable double-slit quantum eraser with individual photons

Todorka L. Dimitrova, Antoine Weis

Published Oct 4, 2011• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The double-slit experiment has played an important role in physics, from supporting the wave theory of light, via the discussions of the wave–particle duality of light (and matter) to the foundations of modern quantum optics. Today it keeps playing an active role in the context of quantum optics experiments involving single photons. In this paper, we present a truly portable double-slit apparatus which demonstrates both the wave–particle duality of light and the phenomenon of quantum erasing. The device can be operated either with strong laser light and screen projection, or with individual photons, in which case quantum interference and quantum erasing are detected by a photomultiplier whose pulses are rendered acoustically by means of a loudspeaker. Alternatively, the phenomena can be displayed using multimedia projection of oscilloscope traces.

DOI
10.1088/0143-0807/32/6/008

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The double-slit experiment has played an important role in physics, from supporting the wave theory of light, via the discussions of the wave–particle duality of light (and matter) to the foundations of modern quantum optics. Today it keeps playing an active role in the context of quantum optics experiments involving single photons. In this paper, we present a truly portable double-slit apparatus which demonstrates both the wave–particle duality of light and the phenomenon of quantum erasing. The device can be operated either with strong laser light and screen projection, or with individual photons, in which case quantum interference and quantum erasing are detected by a photomultiplier whose pulses are rendered acoustically by means of a loudspeaker. Alternatively, the phenomena can be displayed using multimedia projection of oscilloscope traces.
Single-photon interference is a beautiful manifestation of the wave–particle duality of light and the double-slit Gedankenexperiment is a standard lecture example for introducing quantum mechanical reality. Interference arises only if each photon can follow several (classical) paths from the source to the detector, and if one does not have the possibility to determine which specific path the photon has taken. Attaching a specific label to the photon traveling along a specific path destroys the interference. However, in some cases those labels can be erased from the photon between leaving the apparatus and being detected, by which interference can be restored, a phenomenon called quantum erasing. We present lecture demonstration experiments that illustrate the wave–particle duality of light and the phenomenon of quantum erasing. Both experiments are first shown with strong light and, in a second step, on a photon-by-photon basis. The smooth transition from the quantum to the classical case can be shown in real time by varying the incident light intensity.
The wave-particle duality of light plays a fundamental role in introductory courses on quantum mechanics. Traditionally the wave and particle aspects of light are demonstrated in separate experiments which makes it difficult for students to understand their complementary nature. We present an experiment using a single apparatus that demonstrates the wave aspect, the particle aspect, and most importantly, their coexistence. The apparatus is based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in which a light beam is attenuated so that at each instant there is only a single photon in the interferometer. In this way the observation of single photon interference becomes possible. By integrating the single photon events in a storage oscilloscope the evolution toward classical interference fringes can be shown in real time. A second strong laser beam, derived from the same pointer, but slightly displaced, traverses the interferometer at the same time, allowing the simultaneous demonstration of wave aspects. Special features of the setup are low cost, simplicity, didactical power and suitability for presentations in large lecture halls using both multimedia projections and audible signals.
Abstract Wave–particle duality is a counterintuitive nature of quantum physics that challenges many common-sense assumptions, and Young’s double-slit interference is a prototypical example. While most quantum erasure experiments emphasized the choice of erasing or marking the which-path information of one quantum system, we use frequency entanglement to report a nonlocal temporal double-slit interferometer such that the which-time information determines the wave-like or particle-like behaviors. Since frequency-entangled photons are created simultaneously by using spontaneous parametric down conversion, the mark of temporal distinguishability is readily prepared by delaying one of the entangled photons, and its quantum eraser is implemented by using spectrally resolved detection with a tunable delayed choice. These results may provide an alternative aspect and insight into the role of the temporal degree in quantum-light complementarity and photon interference.
This experiment explores the quantum phenomenon known as the Quantum Eraser, using a variation of Young’s Double Slit experiment. Young’s Double Slit experiment demonstrates that light acts as a wave by creating an interference pattern when diffracted through two slits. If one measures which of the two slits the photons pass through, then the interference pattern is replaced by a single bright spot, as would be expected for particle-like behaviour. The “Quantum Eraser” eliminates the measurement on the photons, thereby reintroducing the interference pattern observed in Young’s original experiment. The experiment’s first stage saw Young’s Double Slit experiment recreated and an interference pattern was observed. Upon adding two orthogonally polarized filters, the photon’s path was measured, and the interference pattern was removed. By then adding a third filter which was polarized 45O relative to both other polarisers, the interference pattern was somewhat restored. For each experiment, the heights of the peaks in the interference patterns were compared to each other to examine the quality of the reproduced interference pattern based on the original double slit interference pattern. This comparison gave a quantitative result that demonstrated that the Quantum Eraser was able to restore the interference pattern to within 5 standard errors, thereby exemplifying the effect that changing the measurement conditions affects the final measurement.
The double-slit experiment strikingly demonstrates the wave-particle duality of quantum objects. In this famous experiment, particles pass one-by-one through a pair of slits and are detected on a distant screen. A distinct wave-like pattern emerges after many discrete particle impacts as if each particle is passing through both slits and interfering with itself. Here we present a temporally- and spatially-resolved measurement of the double-slit interference pattern using single photons. We send single photons through a birefringent double-slit apparatus and use a linear array of single-photon detectors to observe the developing interference pattern. The analysis of the buildup allows us to compare quantum mechanics and the corpuscular model, which aims to explain the mystery of single-particle interference. Finally, we send one photon from an entangled pair through our double-slit setup and show the dependence of the resulting interference pattern on the twin photon's measured state. Our results provide new insight into the dynamics of the buildup process in the double-slit experiment, and can be used as a valuable resource in quantum information applications.