A systematic analysis of the simplest quantum optics experiment of linearly polarized photons with a beam-splitter leads to several quantum enigmas, which cannot be explained on the basis of quantum positivism or quantum optics. The fact that photons demonstrate under the “No-Click” conditions non-physical interactions at detector shows that quantum mechanics paradigm is deficient. The study raises philosophical, foundational, and paradigmatic issues with respect to limitations of quantum mechanics.
A systematic analysis of the simplest quantum optics experiment of linearly polarized photons with a beam-splitter leads to several quantum enigmas, which cannot be explained on the basis of quantum positivism or quantum optics. The fact that photons demonstrate under the “No-Click” conditions non-physical interactions at detector shows that quantum mechanics paradigm is deficient. The study raises philosophical, foundational, and paradigmatic issues with respect to limitations of quantum mechanics.
For around five decades, physicists have been experimenting with single quanta such as single photons. Insofar as the practised ensemble reasoning has become obsolete for the interpretation of these experiments, the non-classical intrinsic probabilistic nature of quantum theory has gained increased importance. One of the most important exclusive features of quantum physics is the undeniable existence of the superposition of states, even for single quantum objects. One known example of this effect is entanglement. In this paper, two classically contradictory phenomena are combined to one single experiment. This experiment incontestably shows that a single photon incident on an optical beam splitter can either be reflected or transmitted. The almost complete absence of coincident clicks of two photodetectors demonstrates that these two output states are incompatible. However, when combining these states using two mirrors, we can observe interference patterns in the counting rate of the single photon detector. The only explanation for this is that the two incompatible output states are prepared and kept simultaneously—a typical consequence of a quantum superposition of states. (Semi-)classical physical concepts fail here, and a full quantum concept is predestined to explain the complementary experimental outcomes for the quantum optical “non-waves” called single photons. In this paper, we intend to demonstrate that a true quantum physical key experiment (“true” in the sense that it cannot be explained by any classical physical concept), when combined with full quantum reasoning (probability, superposition and interference), influences students’ readiness to use quantum elements for interpretation.
This paper continues to explore a possible physical interpretation of the wavefunction but with a focus on the wavefunction(s) of a single photon in the Mach-Zehnder experiment. It focuses, in particular, on how one might visualize linear and circular polarization states for photon waves, and how beam splitters may or may not split a circular polarization state into two independent linear polarization states or – vice versa – recombine two linear polarization states into one circular state. As such, it attempts to provide a more refined approach to the rather crude hidden-variable theory for explaining quantum-mechanical interference that was presented in a previous paper (http://vixra.org/pdf/1811.0005v1.pdf). The outcome is the same, however: the theory does not work. Hence, this paper again shows the limit of such physical interpretations, thereby confirming the intuition behind Bell’s Theorem.
Photons and laser beams provide an ideal situation to discuss some of the mysteries of quantum physics. There are many additional fundamental features which are not accessible with a classical system such as an electric current, which include: quantum noise, the uncertainty relation and correlations between different laser beams. Not only is the difference between the quantum behavior of photons and classical waves a curious effect, it is also important in many technical applications and forms the basis of future technologies, such as improved optical sensors or quantum cryptography. Using the example of a simple beam splitter and its effect on a laser beam one can explore these mysterious quantum effect with undergraduate students. We will discuss a systematic series of cases, using the beam splitter, which identify the difference between the quantum and the classical world. We will present the technical details of an experiment suitable for third year students that demonstrate genuine quantum noise effects.
Beam splitter Compared with other fundamental experiments in physics, optical tests of quantum mechanics are often distinguished by their simplicity. Most quantum optical experiments do not require a whole industry - an optical table of equipment and a few people are often sufficient. Good ideas, good research problems are more important. “Research is to see what everybody has seen and to think what nobody has thought” (Jammer, 1989). A simple optical beam splitter, for instance, is already a nice device to demonstrate the quantum nature of light. Quite a number of puzzling quantum effects have been seen by splitting or recombining photons at a small cube of glass. Additionally, the beam splitter serves as a theoretical paradigm for other linear optical devices. Interferometers, semitransparent mirrors, dielectric interfaces, wave guide couplers, and polarizers are all described sufficiently well by a simple beam splitter model. The quantum effects of almost all passive optical devices can be understood assuming appropriate beam splitter models. (It's all done with mirrors.) Heisenberg picture An ideal beam splitter is a reversible, lossless device in which two incident beams may interfere to produce two outgoing beams. For instance, a dielectric interface inside a cube or plate of glass splits a light beam into two, see Fig. 5.1. We may reverse this situation by sending the two beams back to the cube, where they interfere constructively to restore the original beam.
In a world designed specifically to make easy the learning of quantum physics, the simplest example would be states of position of a free particle or of a particle confined in an atom. Photons allow us to develop the essential formal ideas of quantum physics with an absolute minimum of complexity. A satisfactory theory of photons requires quantum electrodynamics , a branch of advanced quantum theory. The simplest photon polarization state to produce and describe is a state of "linear polarization". It is easy enough to determine whether or not the photons in a beam are in a state of linear polarization. For a linearly polarized beam the state can be exactly specified in terms of the orientation of the polarizer transmission axis for maximum transmission. The behavior of photons in a beam is independent of the intensity of the beam; the photons behave—most conveniently—in a manner independent of one another.
Clear and rigorous quantum reasoning is needed to explain quantum physical phenomena. As pillars of true quantum physical explanations, we suggest specific quantum reasoning derived from quantum physical key ideas. An experiment is suggested to support such a quantum reasoning, in which a quantized radiation field interacts with an optical beam splitter, leading to experimental results conflicting with classical physical predictions. The results, however, can be explained consistently with a quantum reasoning based on the key ideas of probability, superposition, and interference (PSI). In this quantum optical key experiment the optical beam splitter prepares a superposition of single photon states and a Michelson interferometer is used to detect the superposition via controlled propagation phases. Although different single photon experimental setups (aimed at helping students to gain access to foundational issues in quantum physics) have been discussed in the past, the wave-particle dualism bound to classical physics maintains its predominance as an explanation pattern for the interpretation of these experiments. The study presented here investigates the effect of the quantum optical key experiment on the ability of students to use quantum reasoning based on the key ideas of PSI to overcome the naive wave-particle dualism. The current state of relevant studies that test student access to quantum physics can roughly be divided into two distinct areas: one tests how mathematical abilities help them to understand quantum physics and one tests how nonmathematical representations of a set of specific quantum theoretical traits (“Wesenszüge”) lead to a deeper understanding of quantum physics. There is a lack of questionnaires that focus on the idea of developing quantum reasoning based on superposition, probability, and interference of quantum states combined with a real experiment using true quantum light. In the first part of the article, we describe the physical modeling and present the development of the questionnaire. The set of items has been constructed from newly developed items and combined with well-tested ones. The validation of the set addresses qualitative and quantitative methods. In the second part, we give a pre- and poststudy examination of the impact of the quantum optical key experiment on students’ quantum reasoning. A significant increase in the number of students using quantum arguments is based on PSI reasoning for the explanation of an interference, such as the behavior of single photon states. Though the increase is significant, we found only minor changes in a particular issue to the students’ reasoning when approaching quantum physics as illustrated by a sample of answers given in the second part of the article. The concept of quantum states and the principle of superposition still appear particularly difficult. Published by the American Physical Society 2024