The moving light clock: which way the photon goes?

Stephen Mark Barnett

I. S. Osborne

Physics Quantum information processing requires a protocol for transferring data between memories comprising atomic energy states. Light, in the form of single photons, is the natural candidate for such applications: Photons can couple to the atomic memories, move fast, and remain relatively robust

Henok Tadesse

We already know the unconventional and inexplicable behavior of light/photons (and other quantum particles such as electrons) in the Which-Way quantum experiment and entanglement phenomena. In this paper we propose another quantum experiment using a Michelson interferometer. We start with an 'elementary' thought experiment. Suppose that a Michelson interferometer is set up so that the two light beams undergo complete constructive interference, with a single bright spot. Then the distance of one of the mirrors is slightly adjusted for a complete destructive interference: the bright spot disappears. The puzzle is: where does the light go? We suspect that, just like nature does not allow us to know which slit a photon has passed through in the double- slit experiment, nature may not allow us to know 'where the light goes' in the case of (complete) destructive interference. Although nature may not allow a direct measurement, we can understand by reasoning 'where the light goes' during complete destructive interference. This paper reveals the mystery. A simple quantum experiment based on the Michelson interferometer is proposed.

Christian Cormier-Delanoue

Henok Tadesse

We already know the unconventional and inexplicable behavior of light/photons (and other quantum particles such as electrons) in the Which-Way quantum experiment and entanglement phenomena. In this paper we propose another quantum experiment using a Michelson interferometer. We start with an 'elementary' thought experiment. Suppose that a Michelson interferometer is set up so that the two light beams undergo complete constructive interference, with a single bright spot. Then the distance of one of the mirrors is slightly adjusted for a complete destructive interference: the bright spot disappears. The puzzle is: where does the light go? We suspect that, just like nature does not allow us to know which slit a photon has passed through in the double- slit experiment, nature may not allow us to know 'where the light goes' in the case of (complete) destructive interference. Although nature may not allow a direct measurement, we can understand by reasoning 'where the light goes' during complete destructive interference. This paper reveals the mystery. A simple quantum experiment based on the Michelson interferometer is proposed.

Richard J. Cook