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Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics

Circular polarization correlation of the two photons emitted in the decay of metastable atomic deuterium

HT Haji-Hassan, Alan J. Duncan, Walter Perrie, Hans Kleinpoppen, Eugen Merzbacher

Published Dec 14, 1991• 6 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The circular polarization correlation of the two photons emitted simultaneously in the decay of metastable atomic deuterium has been measured for the first time. Taking full account of the imperfections of the achromatic quarter-wave plates and linear polarizers used in the experiments, it is concluded that the results are most probably consistent with the predictions of the quantum mechanical formalism but do not provide a test of Bell's inequality.

DOI
10.1088/0953-4075/24/23/028

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The circular polarization correlation of the two photons emitted simultaneously in the decay of metastable atomic deuterium has been measured for the first time. Taking full account of the imperfections of the achromatic quarter-wave plates and linear polarizers used in the experiments, it is concluded that the results are most probably consistent with the predictions of the quantum mechanical formalism but do not provide a test of Bell's inequality.
A 1-keV metastable atomic deuterium [D(2S)] beam of density about 104 atoms cm-3 has been produced by charge-exchange, in caesium vapour, of deuterons extracted from a radio-frequency ion source. The linear and circular polarisation correlation of the two photons emitted spontaneously by metastable atomic deuterium in a true second order radiative process have been measured for the first time. While the circular polarisation results confirm the conservation of angular momentum along the common axis of detection, the correlation in linear polarisation has been applied in a test of Bell’s Inequality which allows a quantitative distinction to be made between the predictions of Quantum Mechanics and local realistic ("hidden variable") theories. The results are in agreement with Quantum Mechanics and violate Bell’s Inequality by almost two standard deviations.
This chapter presents an account of work carried out on metastable atomic hydrogen to measure the polarisation correlation of the two photons produced in the decay process and to test Bell’s inequality and ideas of enhancement. It describes the theory of the two-photon decay will be discussed and an appropriate form of Bell’s inequality. Experiments to test Bell’s inequality usually involve placing a linear polariser and detector diametrically on each side of a source. The measurements of the circular polarisation correlation were not in a form suitable to test Bell’s inequality directly and indicated that the imperfections of the nominally achromatic quarter-wave plates were such as to render unlikely a successful test along these lines. Measurements of the linear and circular polarisation have been carried out and Bell’s inequality put to the test.
Measurements of the polarization correlation of the two-photons emitted simultaneously by metastable atomic deuterium in a true second order radiative process, are described. Two experiments, one involving the use of a half-wave plate and two linear polarizers, and the other three linear polarizers. have been carried out to investigate the validity of quantum mechanics in hitherto unexplored situations and to test local realistic theories of the type recently proposed by Garucclo and Selleri. The result, of the experiment. provide clear evidence against local realistic theories in which the probability of detection is postulated to be dependent on the angle between a polarization vector I. and a detection vector λ- The quantum mechanical predictions for such experiments, in which non-ideal analysers, were employed, have also been established and have been shown to be in agreement with the experimental results. In addition. the results of circular polarization \nmeasurements confirm the conservation of angular momentum along the common axis of detection and give further verification of the correctness of the form of the state vector describing the state of polarization of the two-photons. In another experiment, the effect of an electric field on the polarization properties of the two-photons has been measured for the first time. The Stoke's parameters characterizing the two-photon beam have been determined and the results suggest that the two-photon radiation is partially polarized at 22.5o with respect to the electric field vector. It is suggested that the affect is due to the removal of the degeneracy of the virtual Intermediate P states of the deuterium atom.
Measurements have been made of the polarization properties of the two photons emitted in the decay of metastable atomic deuterium in an experiment in which three linear polarizers, instead of the normal two, are used. The quantum-mechanical predictions for these imperfect polarizers have been calculated and shown to be in good agreement with the experimental results. The results have also been used to test local realistic models which are capable of explaining all existing two-polarizer-type experiments, and have provided conclusive evidence against these theories.