I have a problem I hope somebody familiar with QM can help me with. I have been hitting the books (so to speak) reading all I could find on QM. A long time ago I read some POP Science stuff on QM, which now seems almost useless.. given what I have absorbed recently.
QM seems to have a strong distaste for Temporal qualities and issues, yet I have found some Experiments that demonstrate Temporal Issues, such as Quantum Ghost Interference. Anyway, not to get off track, I have taken the standard Quantum Erasure Experiment and added a Temporal twist as seen below in my graphic.
- Quantum Timing Setup
Basically, the light source emits photons that some of which become Entangled via the BBO and are sent on two paths. The detectors are there to discriminate against non-paired photons. Notice that both detectors have something in common. The top path is CLEAR thus forming a standard dual slit path that normally will result in the detectors sensing interference patterns because a photon has a choice in paths. The twist comes from one of the slit paths (for each) has a polarization filter shown as Red and Blue. Each end, when independently considered, can not determine the path the Photon has taken.
Now the issue/question: If the distance of D1 is shorter than D2, then it seems reasonable that the photon on path D1 will be forced to adopt the RED polarization. This photon should still proceed through the polarization filter anyway and produce an interference pattern because we don't know which slit it passed through towards detector "A". But because it is Entangled with it's twin, the twin has had it's polarization defined and blocks it from passing through the BLUE filter. Thus we know the only path on the "B" side the photon must have taken is the "Clear" path and we shouldn't see interference patterns on detector "B".
If I change the light source such that the path to D1 is now greater than the path to D2, the interference patterns VS non-interference should reverse end roles. This conclusion is solely based on the phrase I keep reading: "Once an Entangled particle is measured or affected then it's twin instantly becomes defined." In this case I'm forcing a polarization on one of the twins first and therefore forcing it's twin to take on the opposite spin polarity.
Now.. disregarding the inclusion of a mirror so I could fit the image together and the possible fact that maybe I should have made both filters as RED polarity. My goal is using the "FIRST" filter encountered by a photon to set a polarization that blocks it's Entangled Photon twin from passing through the filter at the opposing end.
I've tried to create a Temporal Race condition which QM seems to prefer not to address, while using a standard setup that can be tested in the real world. Can anybody tell me what the results would likely be? Am I correct in that the distance difference of paths D1 and D2 will control the interference patterns as I suggested might be observed?
Thanks for any help out there..
Dave :^)
