505 research outputs found
Delayed-choice quantum eraser for the undergraduate laboratory
In a delayed-choice quantum eraser, interference fringes are obtained by
erasing which-way information after the interfering particle has already been
irreversibly detected. Following an introductory review of delayed-choice
experiments and quantum erasure, we describe the experimental realization of an
optical delayed-choice quantum eraser, suitable for advanced undergraduates,
based on polarization-entangled pairs of single photons. In our experiment, the
delay of the erasure is implemented using two different setups. The first setup
employs an arrangement of mirrors to increase the optical path length of the
photons carrying which-way information. In the second setup, we use fiber-optic
cables to elongate the path of these photons after their passage through the
polarization analyzer but prior to their arrival at the detector. We compare
our results to data obtained in the absence of a delay and find excellent
agreement. This shows that the timing of the erasure is irrelevant, as also
predicted by quantum mechanics. The experiment can serve as a valuable
pedagogical tool for conveying the fundamentals of quantum mechanics.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, identical to published versio
Observation of the quantum paradox of separation of a single photon from one of its properties
We report an experimental realization of the quantum paradox of the
separation of a single photon from one of its properties (the so-called
"quantum Cheshire cat"). We use a modified Sagnac interferometer with displaced
paths to produce appropriately pre- and postselected states of heralded single
photons. Weak measurements of photon presence and circular polarization are
performed in each arm of the interferometer by introducing weak absorbers and
small polarization rotations and analyzing changes in the postselected signal.
The absorber is found to have an appreciable effect only in one arm of the
interferometer, while the polarization rotation significantly affects the
signal only when performed in the other arm. We carry out both sequential and
simultaneous weak measurements and find good agreement between measured and
predicted weak values. In the language of Aharonov et al. and in the sense of
the ensemble averages described by weak values, the experiment establishes the
separation of a particle from one its properties during the passage through the
interferometer.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, identical to published versio
Delayed-choice quantum eraser for the undergraduate laboratory
In a delayed-choice quantum eraser, interference fringes are obtained by erasing which-way information after the interfering particle has already been irreversibly detected. Following an introductory review of delayed-choice experiments and quantum erasure, we describe the experimental realization of an optical delayed-choice quantum eraser, suitable for advanced undergraduates, based on polarization-entangled pairs of single photons. In our experiment, the delay of the erasure is implemented using two different setups. The first setup employs an arrangement of mirrors to increase the optical path length of the photons carrying which-way information. In the second setup, we use fiber-optic cables to elongate the path of these photons after their passage through the polarization analyzer but prior to their arrival at the detector. We compare our results to data obtained in the absence of a delay and find excellent agreement. This shows that the timing of the erasure is irrelevant, as also predicted by quantum mechanics. The experiment can serve as a valuable pedagogical tool for conveying the fundamentals of quantum mechanics
Observation of the quantum paradox of separation of a single photon from one of its properties
We report an experimental realization of the quantum paradox of the separation of a single photon from one of its properties (the so-called quantum Cheshire cat ). We use a modified Sagnac interferometer with displaced paths to produce appropriately pre- and postselected states of heralded single photons. Weak measurements of photon presence and circular polarization are performed in each arm of the interferometer by introducing weak absorbers and small polarization rotations and analyzing changes in the postselected signal. The absorber is found to have an appreciable effect only in one arm of the interferometer, while the polarization rotation significantly affects the signal only when performed in the other arm. We carry out both sequential and simultaneous weak measurements and find good agreement between measured and predicted weak values. In the language of Aharonov et al. and in the sense of the ensemble averages described by weak values, the experiment establishes the separation of a particle from one its properties during the passage through the interferometer
Bostonia: The Boston University Alumni Magazine. Volume 32
Founded in 1900, Bostonia magazine is Boston University's main alumni publication, which covers alumni and student life, as well as university activities, events, and programs
Quantum Physics and Human Language
Human languages employ constructions that tacitly assume specific properties
of the limited range of phenomena they evolved to describe. These assumed
properties are true features of that limited context, but may not be general or
precise properties of all the physical situations allowed by fundamental
physics. In brief, human languages contain `excess baggage' that must be
qualified, discarded, or otherwise reformed to give a clear account in the
context of fundamental physics of even the everyday phenomena that the
languages evolved to describe. The surest route to clarity is to express the
constructions of human languages in the language of fundamental physical
theory, not the other way around. These ideas are illustrated by an analysis of
the verb `to happen' and the word `reality' in special relativity and the
modern quantum mechanics of closed systems.Comment: Contribution to the festschrift for G.C. Ghirardi on his 70th
Birthday, minor correction
Is Sr2RuO4 a Chiral P-Wave Superconductor?
Much excitement surrounds the possibility that strontium ruthenate exhibits
chiral p-wave superconducting order. Such order would be a solid state analogue
of the A phase of He-3, with the potential for exotic physics relevant to
quantum computing. We take a critical look at the evidence for such
time-reversal symmetry breaking order. The possible superconducting order
parameter symmetries and the evidence for and against chiral p-wave order are
reviewed, with an emphasis on the most recent theoretical predictions and
experimental observations. In particular, attempts to reconcile experimental
observations and theoretical predictions for the spontaneous supercurrents
expected at sample edges and domain walls of a chiral p-wave superconductor and
for the polar Kerr effect, a key signature of broken time-reversal symmetry,
are discussed.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of LT25 (Amsterdam, August 2008
CANDELS Multi-wavelength Catalogs: Source Detection and Photometry in the GOODS-South Field
We present a UV-to-mid infrared multi-wavelength catalog in the
CANDELS/GOODS-S field, combining the newly obtained CANDELS HST/WFC3 F105W,
F125W, and F160W data with existing public data. The catalog is based on source
detection in the WFC3 F160W band. The F160W mosaic includes the data from
CANDELS deep and wide observations as well as previous ERS and HUDF09 programs.
The mosaic reaches a 5 limiting depth (within an aperture of radius
0.17 arcsec) of 27.4, 28.2, and 29.7 AB for CANDELS wide, deep, and HUDF
regions, respectively. The catalog contains 34930 sources with the
representative 50% completeness reaching 25.9, 26.6, and 28.1 AB in the F160W
band for the three regions. In addition to WFC3 bands, the catalog also
includes data from UV (U-band from both CTIO/MOSAIC and VLT/VIMOS), optical
(HST/ACS F435W, F606W, F775W, F814W, and F850LP), and infrared (HST/WFC3 F098M,
VLT/ISAAC Ks, VLT/HAWK-I Ks, and Spitzer/IRAC 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0 m)
observations. The catalog is validated via stellar colors, comparison with
other published catalogs, zeropoint offsets determined from the best-fit
templates of the spectral energy distribution of spectroscopically observed
objects, and the accuracy of photometric redshifts. The catalog is able to
detect unreddened star-forming (passive) galaxies with stellar mass of
10^{10}M_\odot at a 50% completeness level to z3.4 (2.8), 4.6 (3.2), and
7.0 (4.2) in the three regions. As an example of application, the catalog is
used to select both star-forming and passive galaxies at z2--4 via the
Balmer break. It is also used to study the color--magnitude diagram of galaxies
at 0<z<4.Comment: The full resolution article is now published in ApJS (2013, 207, 24).
22 pages, 21 figures, and 5 tables. The catalogue is available on the CANDELS
website: http://candels.ucolick.org/data_access/GOODS-S.html MAST:
http://archive.stsci.edu/prepds/candels and Rainbow Database:
https://arcoiris.ucolick.org/Rainbow_navigator_public and
https://rainbowx.fis.ucm.es/Rainbow_navigator_publi
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