Experiments with Photons

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary related to the experiments with photons as discussed in the lecture notes.

Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

An optical device consisting of two beam splitters and two mirrors that allows for interference of light based on phase differences.

Probability Amplitude

A complex number whose square of the absolute value gives the probability of finding a photon in a particular state.

Beam Splitter

An optical device that splits a beam of light into two parts, reflecting some light and transmitting the rest.

Superposition State

A state in which a quantum system exists in multiple states at once, represented as a linear combination of basis states.

Phase Shifter

A device that introduces a phase difference in the wave function of a photon without changing its probability amplitude.

Reflection Amplitude (s, v)

The portion of the incident light amplitude that is reflected by the beam splitter.

Transmission Coefficient (t, u)

The portion of the incident light amplitude that transmits through the beam splitter.

Elitzur-Vaidman Bombs

A theoretical construct that demonstrates interaction-free measurement, where a photon can indicate the state of a detector without triggering an event.

Interaction-Free Measurement

A quantum mechanical phenomenon where information is obtained without direct interaction with the object being measured.

Probability Norm Condition

The requirement that the sum of the squares of the probabilities must equal one, ensuring total probability is conserved.