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LEOK-3A-19 Quantum Erasing

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27 views

LEOK-3A-19 Quantum Erasing

Uploaded by

김우진
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Construct, Conduct & Comprehend Physics Experiments

LEOK-3-19 Building a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer and


Analogizing Quantum Erasing

 Complete set
 Cost effective solution
 Detailed instructional manual
 Easy alignment

Figure 19-1 Schematic of experiment setup


1: He-Ne Laser L (LLL-2) 14: Beam Expender ( f’=4.5 mm)
2: Laser Holder (SZ-42) 15: Magnetic Base (SZ-04)
3: Magnetic Base (SZ-04) 16: White Screen (SZ-13)
4: Beam Splitter (5:5, BS1) 17: Magnetic Base (SZ-04)
5: Plate Holder (SZ-12) 18: Magnetic Base (SZ-04)
6: Magnetic Base (SZ-04) 19: Flat Mirror M2
7: Flat Mirror M1 20: Two-axis Holder (SZ-07)
8: Magnetic Base (SZ-04) 21: Polarizer P1 with Holder (SZ-51)
9: Two-axis Holder (SZ-07) 22: Magnetic Base (SZ-04)
10: Beam Splitter (5:5, BS2) 23: Polarizer P3 with Holder (SZ-51)
11: Plate Holder (SZ-12) 24: Magnetic Base (SZ-04)
12: Magnetic Base (SZ-04) 25: Polarizer P2 with Holder (SZ-51)
13: Lens Holder (SZ-08) 26: Magnetic Base (SZ-04)
The principle and configuration of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) has been described in previ-
Theory ous experiment and does not repeat here. This experiment is to analogize the working principle of a
quantum eraser. As shown in Figure 19-1, three polarizers are used in the setup. After properly setting
up the optical path, experimental phenomena can be observed in either path behind the second beam splitter.
Without polarizer P3, rotate polarizer P2 continuously (do not touch P1), the visibility of the interference pattern will be
changed periodically, i.e. when P1 and P2 are parallel, clear interference pattern can be observed, and when P1 and P2
are crossed at 90°, interference pattern disappears. This phenomenon has been explained through classical electrody-
namics. From the point view of quantum-mechanics, if the light source of the MZI emits photons with known polariza-
tion direction (horizontal or vertical), when the two polarizers are 90° crossed, we can know the photons (as particles)
pass through which arm of the interferometer when they arrive at the screen, this means we obtain the path informa-
tion of the particles. Since an interference pattern is created by the wave property of light, from quantum mechanics,
wave property and particle property cannot be observed simultaneously, therefore, no interference pattern can be
observed when the two polarizers are 90° crossed. This experiment implies that photons have the property of wave-
particle duality.
Construct, Conduct & Comprehend Physics Experiments

By inserting the third polarizer P3 between the second beam splitter and the screen, when the polarization direction of
P3 is at 45° to both the polarizers P1 and P2, all of the photons passing through P3 and arriving at the screen will have
the same polarization directions, which means we cannot know which photon passing through which arm of the MZI,
i.e. no path information is known or the path information is erased. Therefore, the interference pattern appears again
on the screen.

Experiment Procedures
1. Refer to Figure 19-1, align all the components at same height on an optical table. At this moment, the beam
expander and the three polarizers should not be placed in the light path.

2. Adjust the output of the He-Ne laser to make it parallel to the surface of the optical table;

3. Adjust beam splitter BS1 at an angle of 45° with respect to the beam axis, and adjust its tilt so that the two beams
(transmission and reflection) are parallel to the table;

4. Adjust mirrors M1 and M2 until the light beams reflected by them parallel to the table surface and strike at the
same position on BS2;

5. Insert the beam expander, interference pattern should be observed on the screen (if not, repeat the above steps);
depending on the situation of the intersection angle of the two interference beams, the pattern shape could be
rings, partial rings or straight lines.

6. Finely adjust the tilt angle of M2, obtain optimal interference pattern;
7. Insert two polarizers (P1 and P2) respectively in the two arms of the MZI optical path. Let the direction of P1 polari-
zation at approximate 45° intersection with the laser polarization. Rotate P2 continuously, the interference pattern
periodically disappears and appears every 180° of rotation.

8. At the time of interference pattern disappears, i.e. P1 and P2 are 90° crossed, insert the third polarizer P3 in be-
tween the beam splitter BS2 and the white screen. Rotate P3 continuously, the interference pattern periodically
disappears and appears every 90° of rotation.

Note:
1. Since the He-Ne laser source is polarized, may rotate the laser tube to adjust the polarization direction of the input
beam to enabling the light intensities in the two arms as closer as possible.
2. For correctly using the beam splitter, please set the front surface of the beam splitter to face to the incident light
and let the light reflected from the front surface.

Lambda Scientific Systems, Inc.


16300 SW 137th Ave, Unit 132 Note: above product information is subject to change without notice.
Miami, FL 33177, USA
Phone: 305.252.3838 Fax: 305.517.3739
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.lambdasys.com

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