Analysis of multipath interference in three-slit experiments

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that three-slit interference is generally nonzero based on Maxwell's equations, challenging the hypothesis that it should be zero, and clarifies the importance of correctly linking theory to experimental setups.

Contribution

It provides a rigorous analysis showing three-slit interference is nonzero and highlights the importance of proper theoretical-experimental correspondence.

Findings

Three-slit interference is nonzero in realistic models.

The zero-interference hypothesis results from misinterpreting theoretical symbols.

Under certain conditions, the zero-interference approximation is valid.

Abstract

It is demonstrated that the three-slit interference, as obtained from explicit solutions of Maxwell's equations for realistic models of three-slit devices, including an idealized version of the three-slit device used in a recent three-slit experiment with light (U. Sinha {\sl et al.}, Science 329, 418 (2010)), is nonzero. The hypothesis that the three-slit interference should be zero is the result of dropping the one-to-one correspondence between the symbols in the mathematical theory and the different experimental configurations, opening the route to conclusions that cannot be derived from the theory proper. It is also shown that under certain experimental conditions, this hypothesis is a good approximation.