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arXiv · 2401.02351

Young's Double-Slit Interference Demonstration with Single Photons

Bill J. Luo·Leia Francis·Valeria Rodriguez-Fajardo·Farbod Khoshnoud·Enrique J. Galvez
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Abstract

The interference of single photons going through a double slit is a compelling demonstration of the wave and particle nature of light in the same experiment. Single photons produced by spontaneous parametric down-conversion can be used for this purpose. However, it is particularly challenging to implement due to coherency and resolution challenges. In this article, we present a tabletop laboratory arrangement suitable for the undergraduate instruction laboratory that overcomes these challenges. The apparatus scans a single detector to produce a plot showing the interference patterns of single photons. We include experimental data obtained using this setup demonstrating double-slit and single-slit interference as well as quantum erasing through the use of sheet polarizers.

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Bill J. Luo, Leia Francis, Valeria Rodriguez-Fajardo, Farbod Khoshnoud, Enrique J. Galvez. 2024-01-04. Young's Double-Slit Interference Demonstration with Single Photons. https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.02351

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