Detection of Quantum Interference without an Interference Pattern

Esin, Iliya and Romito, Alessandro and Gefen, Yuval (2020) Detection of Quantum Interference without an Interference Pattern. Physical review letters, 125 (2): 020405. ISSN 0031-9007

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Abstract

Quantum interference is typically detected through the dependence of the interference signal on certain parameters (path length, Aharonov-Bohm flux, etc.), which can be varied in a controlled manner. The destruction of interference by a which-path measurement is a paradigmatic manifestation of quantum effects. Here we report on a novel measurement protocol that realizes two objectives: (i) certifying that a measured signal is the result of interference avoiding the need to vary parameters of the underlying interferometer, and (ii) certifying that the interference signal at hand is of quantum nature. In particular, it yields a null outcome in the case of classical interference. Our protocol comprises measurements of cross-correlations between the readings of which-path weakly coupled detectors positioned at the respective interferometer's arms and the current in one of the interferometer's drains. We discuss its implementation with an experimentally available platform: an electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) coupled electrostatically to "detectors" (quantum point contacts).

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Physical review letters
Additional Information:
© 2020 American Physical Society
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3100/3100
Subjects:
?? componentsystemnoisespingeneral physics and astronomyphysics and astronomy(all) ??
ID Code:
146076
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
28 Jul 2020 11:25
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
27 Oct 2024 00:23