Double-slit quantum eraser

Abstract

We report a quantum eraser experiment which actually uses a Young double-slit to create interference. The experiment can be considered an optical analogy of an experiment proposed by Scully, Englert and Walther(SEW) [Nature 351, 111 (1991)]. One photon of an entangled pair is incident on a Young double-slit of appropriate dimensions to create an interference pattern in a distant detection region. Quarter-wave plates, oriented so that their fast axes are orthogonal, are placed in front of each slit to serve as which-path markers. The quarter-wave plates mark the polarization of the interfering photon and thus destroy the interference pattern. To recover interference, we measure the polarization of the other entangled photon. In addition, we perform the experiment under "delayed erasure" circumstances.42.50. Ar, 42.25.Kb

A portable double-slit quantum eraser with individual photons

“…Commercial components used for building the portable quantum eraser: (a) double bored; (b) threaded; (c) −9.7 mm, plano-concave cylindrical; (d) +50 mm, plano-convex cylindrical; (e) −6.4 mm, plano-concave cylindrical; (f) −9.7 mm, plano-concave cylindrical; (g) 150 × 300 × 12.7 mm 3 ; (h) 1/2 diameter, OD 2.0; (i) 1/2 diameter, OD 3.0. parametric down-conversion that produces correlated (entangled) photon pairs. In the context of teaching, such experiments are described by Walborn et al [13], who discuss the historical development of quantum mechanical ideas, from wave-particle duality via the uncertainty principle and the quantum measurement problem to quantum erasing as a manifestation of quantum entanglement. However, we feel that our approach has its own didactical merits, since the concept of Bell states is a more advanced topic in quantum mechanics, whose conceptual understanding will definitely profit from the experiments shown here.…”

An Approach To “Quantumness” In Coherent Control

“…In doing so, we can recover maximum fringe contrast [92,[102][103][104][105] and thus a maximum of phase control. What is remarkable about this is that the phase control can originate entirely from a nontrivial quantum interference effect.…”

“…With all the specific attributes of photoelectron spin control, however, repeating such a success would be expremely difficult. Furthermore, we could have discussed far simpler examples of quantum erasure [103,105,145], delayed choice [102,[146][147][148], and quantum delayed choice [51,78,79], based on established technology like linear quantum optics that is used routinely in applications of quantum information theory. Indeed, we do not propose photoelectron spin control to show that quantum erasure and quantum delayed choice are possible or to provide further evidence that nature violates local realism.…”

Quantum properties of a which-way detector

“…Experimental observations of the quantum eraser have been reported in several quantum systems [12][13][14][15][16][17].…”