Asking photons where they have been

A. Danan, D. Farfurnik, S. Bar-Ad, L. Vaidman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present surprising experimental evidence regarding the past of photons passing through an interferometer. The information about the positions through which the photons pass in the interferometer is retrieved from modulations of the detected signal at the vibration frequencies of mirrors the photons bounce off. From the analysis we conclude that the past of the photons is not represented by continuous trajectories, although a "common sense" analysis adopted in various welcher weg measurements, delayed-choice which-path experiments, and counterfactual communication demonstrations yields a single trajectory. The experimental results have a simple explanation in the framework of the two-state vector formalism of quantum theory.

Original languageEnglish
Article number240402
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume111
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 9 Dec 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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