How to put quantum particles on magic bullet trajectories that can hit two targets without a clear line-of-sight

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how quantum interference can be used to prepare photons that can hit two targets simultaneously without a clear line-of-sight, surpassing classical limitations.

Contribution

It introduces a method using interferometry to create quantum states where particles can hit two targets despite blocked direct paths, highlighting a novel quantum control technique.

Findings

Quantum interference raises hit probabilities beyond classical causality.

Particles can be prepared to hit two targets without direct line-of-sight.

The minimal fraction of 'magic bullet' particles is determined through statistical analysis.

Abstract

Quantum particles move in strange ways, even when they propagate freely in space. As a result of the uncertainty principle, it is not possible to control the initial conditions of particle emission in such a way that the particle will definitely pass through two precisely defined positions along its path, even if it is possible to line up the two positions with the emitter. However, there is also an upside to the quantum mechanical laws of motion: constructive quantum interferences can actually raise probabilities to values higher than those permitted by classical causality. Here, it is shown that conventional interferometric methods can be used to prepare photons in a quantum state in which a non-vanishing fraction of particles will hit both of two possible targets, even though the direct line-of-sight connecting the two targets is blocked at the source. The demonstration of the effect is complicated by the uncertainty principle because the physical detection of a particle at one target disturbs the motion of the particle, making it impossible to determine whether the initial state of motion would have allowed the particle to hit the other target or not. It is nonetheless possible to determine the minimal fraction of "magic bullet" particles that must have hit both targets by showing that the number of particles hitting target A is larger than the number of particles missing target B. Quantum interference effects can thus be used to optimize the path of particles in free space beyond the classical limit of motion along a straight line.