Geometric phase and wave-particle duality of the photon

TL;DR

This paper explores the relationship between geometric phase and wave-particle duality in photons, revealing a complementarity relation that links geometric phase to which-path information, thereby deepening understanding of fundamental quantum phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a general complementarity relation connecting geometric phase and which-path information in photon double-slit experiments, highlighting a foundational link in quantum physics.

Findings

Discovered a complementarity relation between geometric phase and which-path information.

Demonstrated the link between geometric phase and wave-particle duality.

Provided experimental insights into the quantum nature of photons.

Abstract

The concepts of geometric phase and wave-particle duality are interlinked to several fundamental phenomena in quantum physics, but their mutual relationship still forms an uncharted open problem. Here we address this question by studying the geometric phase of a photon in double-slit interference. We especially discover a general complementarity relation for the photon that connects the geometric phase it exhibits in the observation plane and the which-path information it encases at the two slits. The relation can be seen as quantifying wave-particle duality of the photon via the geometric phase, thus corroborating a foundational link between two ubiquitous notions in quantum physics research.