Demystifying the delayed-choice quantum eraser

DOI10.1088/1361-6404/AB923EarXiv1908.03920MaRDI QIDQ6046419FDOQ6046419

Publication date: 11 May 2023

Published in: European Journal of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The delayed-choice quantum eraser has long been a subject of controversy, and has been looked at as being incomprehensible to having retro-causal effect in time. Here the delayed-choice quantum eraser is theoretically analyzed using standard quantum mechanics. Employing Mach-Zehnder interferometer, instead of a conventional two-slit interference, brings in surprising clarity. Some common mistakes in interpreting the experiment are pointed out. It is demonstrated that in the delayed mode there is no which-way information present after the particle is registered on the screen or the final detectors, contrary to popular belief. However, it is shown that another kind of path information is present even after the particle is registered in the final detectors. The registered particle can be used to predict the results of certain yet to be made measurements on the which-way detector. This novel correlation can be tested in a careful experiment. It is consequently argued that there is no big mystery in the experiment, and no retro-causal effect whatsoever.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1908.03920

zbMATH Keywords

delayed choice quantum eraser quantum complementarity two slit interference

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Quantum theory (81-XX) Computer science (68-XX)

Cites Work

Cited In (3)

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