On the EPR-type Entanglement in the Experiments of Scully et Al. I. The Micromaser Case and Delayed-choice Quantum Erasure

TL;DR

This paper analyzes delayed-choice quantum erasure in two-photon experiments related to the micromaser, using an EPR-type framework and the RRUES approach to deepen understanding of quantum mechanics beyond mere probability calculations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed quantum mechanical analysis of delayed-choice erasure experiments, extending the understanding of EPR-type entanglement and the RRUES approach in this context.

Findings

Identifies two natural coherence cases matching Scully et al.'s experiments.

Shows that erasure with delayed choice has an analogous structure to simple erasure.

Provides insights into the interpretation of quantum mechanics beyond probability calculations.

Abstract

Delayed-choice erasure is investigated in two-photon two-slit experiments that are generalizations of the micromaser experiment of Scully et al. [Scully, M. O. et al. Nature 351, 111-116 (1991)]. Applying quantum mechanics to the localization detector, it is shown that erasure with delayed choice in the sense of Scully, has an analogous structure as simple erasure. The description goes beyond probabilities. The EPR-type disentanglement, consisting in two mutually incompatible distant measurements, is used as a general framework in both parts of this study. Two simple coherence cases are shown to emerge naturally, and they are precisely the two experiments of Scully et al. The treatment seems to require the relative-reality-of-unitarily-evolving-state (RRUES) approach. Besides insight in the exoeriments, this study has also the goal of insight in quantum mechanics. The question is if it can be more than just a "book-keeping device" for calculating probabilities as Scully et al. modestly and cautiously claim.