December 1, 2006
Optical experiments designed to explore quantum complementarity are reanalyzed. It is argued that, for each, a classical explanation is not only possible, but more coherent and less contrived. The final conclusion is that these experiments actually constitute support for criticism of the photon paradigm of electric charged particle interaction. They offer little or nothing to say about quantum complementarity once the photon concept is not imposed by mandate.
Similar papers 1
March 7, 2005
Recent experiments in quantum optics have shed light on the foundations of quantum physics. Quantum erasers - modified quantum interference experiments - show that quantum entanglement is responsible for the complementarity principle.
September 15, 2015
In a recent interesting article A. Heuer, G. Pieplow, and R. Menzel discuss a quantum-eraser experiment to investigate the complementarity of wave-like and particle-like behavior of photons. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the very same experimental setup was suggested in a previous paper, and take advantage of this opportunity to examine some aspects of this controversial subject.
March 25, 2015
In this paper we will first look at a particular quantum eraser setup to show that this type of experiments can be understood in an intuitive manner if we are willing to take a complex nonlinear approach, without the need to invoke Niels Bohr's complementarity or quantum entanglement between two particles. We will then discuss a recent experiment of the same type that does not erase the interference pattern when which-path information is available, and argue that this result ...
April 27, 2022
The quantum eraser is a variation of the celebrated Young's interference experiment that can be used to demonstrate the elusive complementarity principle in quantum physics. Here we show the construction of its classical analogue for deployment in classrooms in a simple, cost-effective yet robust manner by employing a laser pointer, double-slits, and polarizers.
August 18, 2014
I argue that quantum optical experiments that purport to refute Bohr's principle of complementarity (BPC) fail in their aim. Some of these experiments try to refute complementarity by refuting the so called particle-wave duality relations, which evolved from the Wootters-Zureck reformulation of BPC (WZPC). I therefore consider it important for my forgoing arguments to first recall the essential tenets of BPC, and to clearly separate BPC from WZPC, which I will argue is a dire...
February 13, 2022
Quantum superposition is the cornerstone of quantum mechanics, where interference fringes originate in the self-interference of a single photon via indistinguishable photon characteristics. Wheeler delayed-choice experiments have been extensively studied for the wave-particle duality over the last several decades to understand the complementarity theory of quantum mechanics. The heart of the delayed-choice quantum eraser is in the mutually exclusive quantum feature violating ...
May 8, 2019
It is demonstrated that 'quantum eraser' (QE) experiments do not erase any information. Nor do they demonstrate retrocausation or 'temporal nonlocality' in their 'delayed choice' form, beyond standard EPR correlations. It is shown that the erroneous erasure claims arise from assuming that the improper mixed state of the signal photon physically prefers either the 'which way' or 'both ways' basis, when no such preference is warranted. The latter point is illustrated through co...
January 15, 2015
The foundational ideas of quantum mechanics continue to give rise to counterintuitive theories and physical effects that are in conflict with a classical description of Nature. Experiments with light at the single photon level have historically been at the forefront of tests of fundamental quantum theory and new developments in photonics engineering continue to enable new experiments. Here we review recent photonic experiments to test two foundational themes in quantum mechan...
March 7, 2003
This paper shows how one can construe the experimental results in a way that does not involve effects that precede their causes.
May 28, 2022
The heart of quantum mechanics is quantum superposition, satisfying the complementarity theory between the particle and wave natures of a physical entity. Delayed choice experiments result in the violation of the cause-effect relation between which-path information (particle nature) and fringe visibility (wave nature). Quantum eraser is for the reversal of predetermined photon characteristics via post-measurements. Here, a macroscopic delayed-choice quantum eraser is conducte...