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Diffraction-based interaction-free measurements

Quantum Studies: Mathematics and Foundations volume 7, pages 145–153 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

We introduce diffraction-based interaction-free measurements. In contrast with previous work where a set of discrete paths is engaged, good-quality interaction-free measurements can be realized with a continuous set of paths, as is typical of optical propagation. If a bomb is present in a given spatial region—so sensitive that a single photon will set it off—its presence can still be detected without exploding it. This is possible because, by not absorbing the photon, the bomb causes the single photon to diffract around it. The resulting diffraction pattern can then be statistically distinguished from the bomb-free case. We work out the case of single- versus double-slit in detail, where the double-slit arises because of a bomb excluding the middle region.

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Acknowledgements

We thank John Howell, Paul Kwiat, and Jeff Tollaksen for helpful discussions. This work was supported by the NSF Grant DMR-1809343. Y.A. acknowledges support from the Israel Science Foundation (Grant 1311/14), Israeli Centers of Research Excellence (ICORE) Center “Circle of Light”, and the German–Israeli Project Cooperation (Deutsch-Israelische Projektkooperation, DIP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA

    Spencer Rogers, Cyril Elouard & Andrew N. Jordan

  2. Center for Coherence and Quantum Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA

    Spencer Rogers, Cyril Elouard & Andrew N. Jordan

  3. School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel

    Yakir Aharonov

  4. Institute for Quantum Studies, Chapman University, Orange, CA, 92866, USA

    Yakir Aharonov & Andrew N. Jordan

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  1. Spencer Rogers
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Correspondence to Spencer Rogers.

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Rogers, S., Aharonov, Y., Elouard, C. et al. Diffraction-based interaction-free measurements. Quantum Stud.: Math. Found. 7, 145–153 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40509-019-00205-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40509-019-00205-6

Keywords

  • Interaction-free measurement
  • Bomb-detection
  • Diffraction
  • Double-slit
  • Zeno effect