Proposal for an interference experiment to test the applicability of quantum theory to event-based processes

TL;DR

This paper proposes an interference experiment with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer to test whether quantum theory or corpuscular models better describe event-based processes, potentially challenging or confirming quantum theory's applicability.

Contribution

It introduces a novel experimental setup to distinguish between quantum theory and corpuscular models based on interference pattern behavior under variable path conditions.

Findings

Quantum theory predicts interference pattern independence from sequence of external variable x.

Corpuscular models predict reduced visibility and pattern shifts depending on x's sequence.

The experiment can validate or challenge the applicability of quantum theory to event-based phenomena.

Abstract

We analyze a single-particle Mach-Zehnder interferometer experiment in which the path length of one arm may change (randomly or systematically) according to the value of an external two-valued variable $x$, for each passage of a particle through the interferometer. Quantum theory predicts an interference pattern that is independent of the sequence of the values of $x$. On the other hand, corpuscular models that reproduce the results of quantum optics experiments carried out up to this date show a reduced visibility and a shift of the interference pattern depending on the details of the sequence of the values of $x$. The proposed experiment will show that: (1) it can be described by quantum theory, and thus not by the current corpuscular models, or (2) it cannot be described by quantum theory but can be described by the corpuscular models or variations thereof, or (3) it can neither be described by quantum theory nor by corpuscular models. Therefore, the proposed experiment can be used to determine to what extent quantum theory provides a description of observed events beyond the usual statistical level.