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arXiv · 0712.0347

Superluminal propagation of evanescent modes as a quantum effect

Zhi-Yong Wang·Cai-Dong Xiong·Bing He
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Abstract

Contrary to mechanical waves, the two-slit interference experiment of single photons shows that the behavior of classical electromagnetic waves corresponds to the quantum mechanical one of single photons, which is also different from the quantum-field-theory behavior such as the creations and annihilations of photons, the vacuum fluctuations, etc. Owing to a purely quantum effect, quantum tunneling particles including tunneling photons (evanescent modes) can propagate over a spacelike interval without destroying causality. With this picture we conclude that the superluminality of evanescent modes is a quantum mechanical rather than a classical phenomenon.

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Zhi-Yong Wang, Cai-Dong Xiong, Bing He. 2008-04-08. Superluminal propagation of evanescent modes as a quantum effect. https://doi.org/10.1002/andp.200710288

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