The Twiss-Hanbury Brown controversy : A 40-years perspective
Description
Some key points in the debate over the visible light intensity interferometer, initiated by Hanbury Brown and Twiss's 1956 observation of a positive correlation between two photomultiplier signals from a split-beam optical source, are re-examined. This was a preliminary to their first measurement of a stellar diameter by this means, made in the same year, in the face of great experimental difficulties and criticism of their method, which produced a value for the angular diameter of α-Sirius which is not only in agreement with present-day measurements, but which provided one of the first tests of quantum electrodynamical theory, and considerably stimulated its further development. We also examine the role which could still be played by intensity interferometry, which would be complementary to the programs currently employing Michelson interferometry, by analogy with present-day high-resolution electron microscopy. (authors)
Availability note (English)
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Additional details
Publishing Information
- Imprint Pagination
- 26 p.
- Report number
- UM-P--97/05
INIS
- Country of Publication
- Australia
- Country of Input or Organization
- Australia
- INIS RN
- 29003804
- Subject category
- PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS;
- Quality check status
- Yes
- Descriptors DEI
- DATA COVARIANCES; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; HISTORICAL ASPECTS; INTERFEROMETRY; PHOTOMULTIPLIERS; QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS; VISIBLE RADIATION;
- Descriptors DEC
- ELECTRODYNAMICS; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; FIELD THEORIES; MICROSCOPY; PHOTOTUBES; QUANTUM FIELD THEORY; RADIATIONS;