Published 1997 | Version v1
Report Open

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)

Available from INIS in electronic form and/or on microfiche .

Files

29003804.pdf

Files (573.1 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:24b636c8827d5247df889c3352f6ea7b
573.1 kB Preview Download

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;