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The Quantumness in Detecting Electromagnetic Waves is Determined by the Interaction Properties of the Detector

Chandrasekhar Roychoudhuri, Narasimha S. Prasad, Gayanath Fernando

Published Apr 20, 2023• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Einstein’s 1905 paper on the photoelectric effect successfully modeled the published data while explicitly defining light as “indivisible light quanta”. One of the key successes of Quantum Mechanics (QM) of 1925-26, is the release of discrete packet of energy hv during any quantum level transitions in atoms and molecules. These two modern successes have overturned the mathematical and experimental knowledge developed over several centuries behind the optical science and engineering, without successfully bridging the knowledge gap epitomized by the still unresolved “wave-particle-duality” (WPD). Note that, optical science and engineering fields are still thriving using Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral (HF-DI) of 1817 and Maxwell’s wave equations of 1876, without any controversy. This chapter resolves this dichotomy by eliminating the need for WPD. We provide a model for the atomic emission as a discrete packet of energy hv, as required by QM, but which evolves and propagates out as a Maxwellian classical exponential wave packet, while diffractively spreading out obeying the HF-DI. The continuing need to accept the magical WPD arises because we have not been systematically and explicitly exploring the two-step physical processes which take place during light-detector interaction before the photoelectric data is generated by our apparatus. The two steps are: (i) Linear amplitude-amplitude stimulation induced on the detecting dipoles by the light wave vector; (ii) which is then followed by the quadratic energy absorption step by the detector. If the detector is an LCR oscillator (for radio waves), or an old fashioned Bolometer (for higher frequencies), we would not observe any quantumness in the data. But, when we use a modern quantum photodetector using higher frequency EM waves, we can count highly amplified current pulses of electrons, generated out of each one of the released electron, bound quantum mechanically inside the detector.

DOI
10.9734/bpi/fraps/v3/5768a

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Einstein’s 1905 paper on the photoelectric effect successfully modeled the published data while explicitly defining light as “indivisible light quanta”. One of the key successes of Quantum Mechanics (QM) of 1925-26, is the release of discrete packet of energy hv during any quantum level transitions in atoms and molecules. These two modern successes have overturned the mathematical and experimental knowledge developed over several centuries behind the optical science and engineering, without successfully bridging the knowledge gap epitomized by the still unresolved “wave-particle-duality” (WPD). Note that, optical science and engineering fields are still thriving using Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral (HF-DI) of 1817 and Maxwell’s wave equations of 1876, without any controversy. This chapter resolves this dichotomy by eliminating the need for WPD. We provide a model for the atomic emission as a discrete packet of energy hv, as required by QM, but which evolves and propagates out as a Maxwellian classical exponential wave packet, while diffractively spreading out obeying the HF-DI. The continuing need to accept the magical WPD arises because we have not been systematically and explicitly exploring the two-step physical processes which take place during light-detector interaction before the photoelectric data is generated by our apparatus. The two steps are: (i) Linear amplitude-amplitude stimulation induced on the detecting dipoles by the light wave vector; (ii) which is then followed by the quadratic energy absorption step by the detector. If the detector is an LCR oscillator (for radio waves), or an old fashioned Bolometer (for higher frequencies), we would not observe any quantumness in the data. But, when we use a modern quantum photodetector using higher frequency EM waves, we can count highly amplified current pulses of electrons, generated out of each one of the released electron, bound quantum mechanically inside the detector.
Quantum computers, hypothesized in 1980s, use concepts of superposition and entanglement phenomena. Although theoretical propositions and associated search algorithms for accurate measurements are being generated, the development of practical quantum computers themselves are advancing very slowly requiring enormous time and investments. The underlying concepts of a quantum computer are not new to the optical domain. However, the crucial enabling concepts of Entanglement and Superposition Principle are remaining clouded under the unresolved postulates, Wave-Particle Duality (WPD), and Wave Packet Reduction (WPR), implicating incompleteness in the interpretations of the mathematical formalism behind Quantum Mechanics. The WPD debate started during late1600 between Newton and Huygens. Young’s resolution of WPD through his double-slit experiment in 1802 was effectively overturned by Einstein’s interpretation of photoelectric effect as due to “indivisible light quanta”. However, Einstein disowned his “light quanta” postulate shortly before his death in1955, even though it had earned him the Nobel Prize. We resolve WPD by synthesizing Newton’s and Maxwell’s concepts and assume atoms do emit quanta but propagate as time-finite exponential pulses. This assumption also resolves WPR for light-matter interaction with the assumption that Schrodinger’s ψ represents atom’s internal dipolar amplitude stimulations. This over-turns Born’s interpretation that ψ only represents the abstract mathematical probability amplitude, rather than the physical “internal amplitude stimulation” of the quantum entity. However, our concept of atomic pulse emission forces us to re-derive the expression for the N-slit grating-spectrometer response since the classical derivation uses CW light, which does not exist. This pulsespectrometric response function strengthens our postulate since the grating response to the exponential pulse appears to be the convolution of a Lorentzian spectrum with the classical CW response function of the grating. The Fourier Transform of an exponential function is Lorentzian and QM predicts spontaneous emission line width to be Lorentzian. Then, conceptually one can extend the grating-expression (with N=2) to get the double-slit pattern. This approach preserves the classical causality that each of the two slits, like the N-signals out of a grating, are physically real and jointly stimulate the quantum detector array at the far field to generate the “Local” cosine fringes. The detector array executes the square modulus operation on its imposed dipolar amplitude stimulation and absorbs the necessary energy to fill up their quantum cups. Hence the double-slit pattern must also be “Local”, just as the N-slit grating spectrum is generated locally at the exit spectral-plane of the spectrometer. This removes the need to believe that “single photons” mysteriously generate the double slit pattern.
In the domain of light emissions, quantum mechanics has been an immensely successful guiding tool for us. In the propagation of light and optical instrument design, Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral (HFDI) (or its advanced versions) and Maxwell’s wave equation are continuing to be the essential guiding tools for optical scientists and engineers. In fact, most branches of optical science and engineering, like optical instrument design, image processing, Fourier optics, Holography, etc., cannot exist without using the foundational postulates behind the Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral. Further, the field of structured light is also growing where phases and the state of polarizations are manipulated usually with suitable classical macro-devices to create wave fronts that restructured through light-matter interactions through these devices. Mathematical modeling of generating such complex wave fronts generally follows classical concepts and classical macro tools of physical optics. Some of these complex light beams can impart mechanical angular momentum and spin-like properties to material particles inserted inside these structured beams because of their electromagnetic dipolar properties and/or structural anisotropy. Does that mean these newly structured beams have acquired new quantum properties without being generated through quantum devices and quantum transitions? In this chapter, we bridge the classical and quantum formalism by defining a hybrid photon (HP). HP is a quantum of energy, hν, at the initial moment of emission. It then immediately evolves into a classical time-finite wave packet, still transporting the original energy, hν, with a classical carrier frequency ν (oscillation of the E-vector). This chapter will raise enquiring questions whether all these observed “quantum-like” behaviors are manifestations of the joint properties of interacting material particles with classical EM waves or are causal implications of the existence of propagation of “indivisible light quanta” with exotic properties like spin, angular momentum, etc.
As low light detection technologies are advancing, novel experiments like single molecule spectroscopy, quantum computation, quantum encryption are proliferating. Quantum mechanical detectors can produce only discrete "clicks" at different rates based on the propagating field energy through them, irrespective of whether the photons are divisible or indivisible packets of energy. This is because electrons are quantized elementary particles and they are always bound in quantized energy levels in different quantum systems. Highly successful quantum formalism is not capable of providing the microscopic picture of the processes undergoing during QM interactions; that is left to human imaginations allowing for sustained controversies and mis-interpretations. This paper underscores the paradoxes that arise with the assumption that photons are indivisible elementary particles based on the obvious but generally ignored fact that EM fields do not operate on (interfere with) each other. Then we propose that atomic or molecular emissions emerge and propagate out as space and time finite classical wave packets. We also suggest experiments to validate that the amplitude of a photon wave packet can be split and combined by classical optical components using the specific example of an N-slit grating.
We are developing a semi-classical model to explain the physical processes behind the origin of the statistical variations in the photoelectron current pulses that we register for different kinds of light. They are: super-Poissonian thermal light, Poissonian laser light and sub-Poissonian nonlinearly generated light. Einstein’s photoelectron equation is an energy balancing equation. It does not incorporate the E-vector stimulation process before the quantum mechanically bound electrons can be released, which constitutes a key objective of physics. To introduce physics, we postulate that the photons are hybrid entities. They are discrete packets of energy hνmn at the moment of emission. Then they immediately evolve into spatially spreading diffractive wave packets to accommodate Huygens-Fresnel principle. HF principle has been behind the sustained progress in classical optics and photonics engineering. Thus a spatially spread out single wave-packet cannot any more deliver the necessary quantum cupful of energy hνmn to Angstrom-size detecting atoms. We need simultaneous stimulation of the same quantum entity by multiple wave packets. This model of physical interaction process naturally brings into play the significance of the degree of mutual coherence between different photon wave packets, along with their time varying amplitudes that are simultaneously stimulating the detecting quantum entities during any time-interval selected for the detection system. The superposition effects on the detector due to these phase and amplitude fluctuations are the physics-reasons behind the generation of different statistical variations in the photoelectron counts due to different kinds of sources even though the original photons are released randomly by all quantum sources.
We present observational and causality arguments to underscore that a better model for light is a “hybrid photon” wave packet. At the moment of quantum transitions, the electromagnetic energy is embedded in the transient quantum, hν. But, it immediately evolves into a diffractively spreading classical, quasi-exponential, EM wave packet. This hybrid photon accommodates both quantum and classical optics. The quantum formalism has demonstrated staggering successes in modeling the micro world of atoms. The Huygens-Fresnel diffraction integral and Maxwell’s wave equation are also enjoying continued successes since early 1800’s. In this paper, using the model of hybrid photon, we underscore that the photoelectron counting statistics should vary depending upon the relative phases, spacing and amplitudes of the superposed wave packets (hybrid photons) as they simultaneously arrive and stimulate the quantum mechanical dipole complexes on the surface of the photo detectors.
The synthesis of Newtonian concept of corpuscles during emission with Huygens’ concept of secondary-wavelets during propagation implies that all EM radiations from quantized atoms and molecules are released as discrete amount of energies. However, they propagate out as time-finite Maxwellian light pulses. Huygens also underscored that his secondary wavelets keep propagating as independent pulses in the absence of any interacting medium, or until intercepted by an interface with a medium or a detector. Then we use the Superposition Principle and the coherence theory to derive Einstein’s photoelectric equation by summing innumerable random time-finite pulses. This process driven approach should yield the characteristic statistical variations of photoelectron current pulses, as generated by photodetectors for different kinds of light sources. Lamb & Scully originally proposed this semiclassical approach without assuming that light actually consists of time finite pulses. The quantumness remains confined within the excitation and de-excitations processes in the material particles.