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Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Wave–particle duality of a photon in emission

Ming Lai, Jean‐Claude Diels

Published Dec 1, 1992• 12 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The wave–particle duality of a photon in emission is demonstrated by measuring the interference between spontaneous emissions in nearly opposite directions from a thin layer of organic dye. The interference is the product of a single photon from a single-emission process. It is shown that the Heisenberg uncertainty relation requires that the interference generated by the spontaneously emitted photon and the recoil transferred to the molecule by the emission cannot be observed simultaneously.

DOI
10.1364/josab.9.002290

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One of the cornerstones of quantum physics is the wave nature of matter. It explains experimentally observed effects like interference and diffraction, occurring when an object moves from one place to another along several indistinguishable ways simultaneously. The wave nature disappears when the individual ways are distinguishable. In this case, the particle nature of the object becomes visible. To determine the particle nature quantitatively, the way of the object has to be measured. Here, large progress has been made recently with new techniques, enabling one to investigate single moving atoms in a controlled manner. Two examples are discussed in the following two sections. The first experiment describes an atom interferometer, where the way of the atom is entangled with its internal state. This allows one to explore the origin of wave-particle duality and perform a quantitative test of this fundamental principle. The second experiment reports on the observation of an atom-photon molecule, a bound state between an atom and a single photon. A fascinating aspect of this system is that it makes possible to monitor the motion of a single neutral atom in real time.

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The wave–particle duality of a photon in emission is demonstrated by measuring the interference between spontaneous emissions in nearly opposite directions from a thin layer of organic dye. The interference is the product of a single photon from a single-emission process. It is shown that the Heisenberg uncertainty relation requires that the interference generated by the spontaneously emitted photon and the recoil transferred to the molecule by the emission cannot be observed simultaneously.
Abstract The general results of constructing and modeling the photon wave function in the coordinate representation in the framework of quantum mechanics are presented in order to explain single-photon interference phenomena, in particular Young’s experiment. The relevance of this function is emphasized in connection with modern single-photon and two-photon experiments. The necessity of replacing the explanation of obtaining coherent light sources using the concept of a train of supposedly real electromagnetic waves emitted by one atom, by the conditional emission by this atom of the photon wave function in the coordinate representation, which then experiences diffraction and interference, is substantiated. A single-photon wave function is simulated based on the consideration of the electric dipole radiation of an atom in classical electrodynamics, and a conclusion is drawn on the possibility to explain Young’s experiment. It is argued that although the photon wave function (as well as of particles having mass) is not a physical object, the application of this function significantly weakens the problem of wave-particle duality of light. It is assumed the “nature” of this function reflects the properties of a physical vacuum, but new experiments are required to clarify it.
Wave and particle properties of a quantum object cannot be observed simultaneously. In particular, the fringe visibility in an interferometer is limited by the amount of which-way information which can be obtained. This limit is set by the recently discovered duality relation. So far, all derivations of the duality relation are independent of Heisenberg’s uncertainty relation. Here we demonstrate that it is alternatively possible to derive the duality relation in the form of an uncertainty relation for some suitably chosen observables.
Publisher Summary Wave-particle duality means that a quantum object can exhibit either wave or particle properties, depending on the experimental situation. The wave nature gives rise to interference phenomena, whereas knowledge about the path taken by the object testifies to its particle nature. It is impossible to observe wave and particle properties simultaneously. Atom interferometry addresses fundamental aspects of the quantum theory of measurement in real experiments. This chapter discusses the loss of interference fringes in a which-way experiment need not be due to the Heisenberg's uncertainty relation. It demonstrates how interference can be restored by erasing the which-way information. The chapter investigated a new regime, where only incomplete which-way information is available. This allowed studying the continuous transition between wave and particle pictures and to test wave-particle duality in a quantitative manner. Future experimental investigations in this field focuses on the investigation of decoherence effects to study the transition between quantum and classical physics, leading to a more detailed understanding of the processes underlying the collapse of the wave function.
Abstract One of the cornerstones of quantum physics is the wave nature of matter. It explains experimentally observed effects like interference and diffraction, occurring when an object moves from one place to another along several indistinguishable ways simultaneously. The wave nature disappears when the individual ways are distinguishable. In this case, the particle nature of the object becomes visible. To determine the particle nature quantitatively, the way of the object has to be measured. Here, large progress has been made recently with new techniques, enabling one to investigate single moving atoms in a controlled manner. Two examples are discussed in the following two sections. The first experiment describes an atom interferometer, where the way of the atom is entangled with its internal state. This allows one to explore the origin of wave‐particle duality and perform a quantitative test of this fundamental principle. The second experiment reports on the observation of an atom‐photon molecule, a bound state between an atom and a single photon. A fascinating aspect of this system is that it makes possible to monitor the motion of a single neutral atom in real time.
One of the cornerstones of quantum physics is the wave nature of matter. It explains experimentally observed effects like interference and diffraction, occurring when an object moves from one place to another along several indistinguishable ways simultaneously. The wave nature disappears when the individual ways are distinguishable. In this case, the particle nature of the object becomes visible. To determine the particle nature quantitatively, the way of the object has to be measured. Here, large progress has been made recently with new techniques, enabling one to investigate single moving atoms in a controlled manner. Two examples are discussed in the following two sections. The first experiment describes an atom interferometer, where the way of the atom is entangled with its internal state. This allows one to explore the origin of wave-particle duality and perform a quantitative test of this fundamental principle. The second experiment reports on the observation of an atom-photon molecule, a bound state between an atom and a single photon. A fascinating aspect of this system is that it makes possible to monitor the motion of a single neutral atom in real time.