How a single particle simultaneously modifies the physical reality of two distant others: a quantum nonlocality and weak value study
Open Access
- 3 January 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Nature in Scientific Reports
- Vol. 7 (1) , 39767
Abstract
The concept of wave-particle duality, which is a key element of quantum theory, has been remarkably found to manifest itself in several experimental realizations as in the famous double-slit experiment. In this specific case, a single particle seems to travel through two separated slits simultaneously. Nevertheless, it is never possible to measure it in both slits, which naturally appears as a manifestation of the collapse postulate. In this respect, one could as well ask if it is possible to “perceive” the presence of the particle at the two slits simultaneously, once its collapse could be avoided. In this article, we use the recently proposed entanglement mediation protocol to provide a positive answer to this question. It is shown that a photon which behaves like a wave, i.e., which seems to be present in two distant locations at the same time, can modify two existing physical realities in these locations. Calculations of the “weak trace” left by such photon also enforce the validity of the present argumentation.Keywords
All Related Versions
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- How a single photon can mediate entanglement between two othersAnnals of Physics, 2016
- Atomic Hong–Ou–Mandel experimentNature, 2015
- Testing foundations of quantum mechanics with photonsNature Physics, 2014
- Past of a quantum particlePhysical Review A, 2013
- Uncertainty in quantum mechanics: faith or fantasy?Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 2011
- Realization of Hardy’s Thought Experiment with PhotonsPhysical Review Letters, 2005
- Quantum effects in one-photon and two-photon interferenceReviews of Modern Physics, 1999
- Nonlocality for two particles without inequalities for almost all entangled statesPhysical Review Letters, 1993
- Quantum mechanics, local realistic theories, and Lorentz-invariant realistic theoriesPhysical Review Letters, 1992
- Measurement of subpicosecond time intervals between two photons by interferencePhysical Review Letters, 1987