Dynamical features of interference phenomena in the presence of entanglement

TL;DR

This paper explores how entanglement affects interference phenomena, proposing a gedanken experiment to analyze phase shifts caused by 'private' potentials, and extends the Born Oppenheimer approximation to interference states.

Contribution

It introduces a novel interpretation of entanglement effects as 'private' potentials and extends the Born Oppenheimer approximation to analyze interference states in entanglement scenarios.

Findings

Predicted interference pattern shifts due to 'private' potentials.

Identified all non-trivial Born Oppenheimer potentials as 'private' potentials.

Extended the Born Oppenheimer approximation to interference states.

Abstract

A "strongly" interacting, and entangling, heavy, non recoiling, external particle effects a significant change of the environment. Described locally, the corresponding entanglement event is a generalized electric Aharonov Bohm effect, that differs from the original one in a crucial way. We propose a gedanken interference experiment. The predicted shift of the interference pattern is due to a self induced or "private" potential difference experienced while the particle is in vacuum. We show that all non trivial Born Oppenheimer potentials are "private" potentials. We apply the Born Oppenheimer approximation to interference states. Using our approach we calculate the relative phase of the external heavy particle as well as its uncertainty throughout an interference experiment /entanglement event. We thus complement the Born Oppenheimer approximation for interference states.