Published September 1, 2019 | Version v1
Journal article

Path predictability and quantum coherence in multi-slit interference

  • 1. Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Patna (India)
  • 2. Centre for Theoretical Physics, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (India)

Description

In an asymmetric multislit interference experiment, a quanton is more likely to pass through certain slits than some others. In such a situation one may be able to predict which slit a quanton is more likely to go through, even without using any path-detecting device. This allows one to talk of path predictability. It has been shown earlier that for a two-slit interference, the predictability and fringe visibility are constrained by the inequality P 2 + V 2 1. Generalizing this relation to the case of more than two slits is still an unsolved problem. A new definition for predictability for multi-slit interference is introduced. It is shown that this predictability and quantum coherence follow a duality relation P 2 + C 2 1, which saturates for all pure states. For the case of two slits, this relation reduces to the previously known one. (paper)

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ab1cd4

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physica Scripta (Online)
Journal Volume
94
Journal Issue
9
Journal Page Range
[4 p.]
ISSN
1402-4896

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
52073657
Subject category
S71: CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS;
Descriptors DEI
ASYMMETRY; DUALITY; EQUIPMENT; INTERFERENCE; PURE STATES; VISIBILITY
Descriptors DEC
QUANTUM STATES