Elementary analysis of interferometers for wave-particle duality test and the perspective of going beyond the complementarity principle

TL;DR

This paper systematically analyzes interferometers to explore the possibility of observing wave and particle behaviors simultaneously, challenging the traditional complementarity principle in quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It proposes new measurement schemes that could allow simultaneous observation of wave and particle properties, suggesting quantum objects can behave beyond the duality and complementarity constraints.

Findings

Designs schemes for simultaneous wave and particle measurement.

Shows proper arrangement can observe both behaviors together.

Indicates potential to go beyond traditional complementarity principle.

Abstract

Wave-particle duality and complementarity principle stand at the conceptual core of quantum theory in its orthodox Copenhagen interpretation. They imply that the wave behavior and particle behavior of quantum objects are mutually exclusive to each other in experimental observation. Here we make a systematic analysis using the elementary methodology of quantum mechanics upon Young`s two-slit interferometer and Mach-Zehnder two-arm interferometer with the focus placed on how to measure the interference pattern (wave nature) and which-way information (particle nature) of quantum objects. We design several schemes to simultaneously acquire the which-way information for an individual quantum object and the high-contrast interference pattern for an ensemble of these quantum objects by placing two sets of measurement instrument that are well separated in space and whose perturbation on each other is negligibly small within the interferometer at the same time. Yet, improper arrangement and cooperation of these two sets of measurement instrument in the interferometer would lead to failure of simultaneous observation of wave and particle behavior. The internal freedoms of quantum object could be harnessed to probe both the which-way information and interference pattern for the center-of-mass motion. That quantum objects can behave beyond the wave-particle duality and complementarity principle would stimulate new conceptual examination and exploration of quantum theory at a deeper level.