Optical Interferometric Measurements Inspired by Time-Reversal Symmetry of Quantum Mechanics

Kazuhisa Ogawa, Shuhei Tamate, Toshihiro Nakanishi +2 more

We propose a classical optical interferometry scheme that reproduces dispersion-insensitive Hong-Ou-Mandel interferograms. The interferometric scheme is derived from a systematic method based on the time-reversal symmetry of quantum mechanics. The scheme uses a time-reversed version of a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer with pairs of orthogonally polarized input laser pulses. We experimentally demonstrate automatic dispersion cancellation using the interferometry. The results show that the interferometer can obtain high-visibility interferograms with high signal conversion efficiency.

Adil Benmoussa

P. Hariharan, Barry C. Sanders

Pranawa C. Deshmukh, Sourav Banerjee, Steven Trent Manson

We visit significant historical steps in quantum collision physics that make photoionization time delay measurable, especially considering the time-reversal symmetry in related processes. The works of A. Ravi P. Rau and Ugo Fano inspire key ideas presented in this article.

Daniel Linnemann

Kurt Franke, Adam Bednorz, Wolfgang Belzig

In classical physics, the microscopic dynamics is invariant under time reversal. In quantum mechanics, it is only the measurement process that renders the dynamics irreversible. However, for non-invasive measurements, one should expect that the time-reversal symmetry is restored. We show that, counterintuitively, the symmetry is broken even in the non-invasive limit.