Experimental Results

Ken Krechmer

Abstract This paper is a response to the EPR paper titled: "Can quantum-mechanical description of physical reality be considered complete?", published in Physical Review in 1935. A quantum-mechanical (QM) measure function describes a distribution of local results, while each experimental measurement process produces one result as exact as allowed by a measuring apparatus calibrated to a non-local unit standard. Repeating experimental measurements produces a Gaussian distribution of measurement results. These QM and experimental measurement result distributions can be compared. To compare a QM measure function describing a distribution of eigenvectors to a distribution of repetitive experimental measurement results, it is necessary to determine, by calibration, the precision of the eigenvectors to the same standard as the experimental results, because each eigenvector evidences uncertainty relative to a standard. When the calibration process is recognized as formal as well as empirical, QM measure function and experimental measurement process results are unified.

Pieter Kok

Nurul T. Islam

Pablo L. Saldanha

In an recent work with the title ``Asking Photons Where They Have Been,'' Danan et al. experimentally demonstrate an intriguing behavior of photons in an interferometer [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 240402 (2013)]. In their words: ``The photons tell us that they have been in the parts of the interferometer through which they could not pass.'' They interpret the results using the two-state vector formalism of quantum theory and say that, although an explanation of the experimental results in terms of classical electromagnetic waves in the interferometer is possible (and they provide a partial description), it is not so intuitive. Here we present a more detailed classical description of their experimental results, showing that it is actually intuitive. The same description is valid for the quantum wave function of the photons propagating in the interferometer. In particular, we show that it is essential that the wave propagates through all parts of the interferometer to describe the experimental results. We hope that our work helps to give a deeper understanding of these interesting experimental results.

Ken Krechmer

In classic measurement theory each measurement result has a precision which becomes infinitesimal as noise and distortion approach zero. I. e., exact repetitive measurement results are theoretically possible. This classic measurement theory is not well correlated with experimental measurement results. Because, when noise and distortion are minimized, repetitive experimental measurement results display a Gaussian distribution. This paper first correlates classic and experimental measurements by developing a new measurement function and related definitions. Then this new measurement function is shown to correlate with quantum measurement theory and resolve existing quantum measurement perplexities.

Jacob P. Covey