User:Patrick0Moran/Sandbox1
The "no" in the chart below needs to be fixed, and also the 50%.
| G-W-B | Choose | Choose | Choose | Choose | Choose | Choose | Choose | Choose | Choose | SUM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preset | B-B-R | G-G | G-W | G-B | W-G | W-W | W-B | B-G | B-W | B-B | |
| Match? | +1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | -1 | no | +1 | 1 | |
| Preset | B-R-B | G-G | G-W | G-B | W-G | W-W | W-B | B-G | B-W | B-B | |
| Match | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | 55% | |
| Preset | B-R-R | G-G | G-W | G-B | W-G | W-W | W-B | B-G | B-W | B-B | |
| Match | +1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | 55% | |
| Preset | R-B-B | G-G | G-W | G-B | W-G | W-W | W-B | B-G | B-W | B-B | |
| Match | +1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | 55% | |
| Preset | R-B-R | G-G | G-W | G-B | W-G | W-W | W-B | B-G | B-W | B-B | |
| Match | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | 55% | |
| Preset | R-R-B | G-G | G-W | G-B | W-G | W-W | W-B | B-G | B-W | B-B | |
| Match | +1 | +1 | -1 | +1 | +1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | +1 | 55% |
Summary of things you should already know:
Eichmann et al (Phys.Rev.Lett, 1993) set up a ‘two slit’ experiment using photon with lead atoms as the scatterers. With careful choice of energy, he was able to arrange that the scattering event changed the internal electronic state of the atom: a process which requires negligible momentum transfer but would allow subsequent measurement of the atomic state and determination which way the particle went. As a consequence, the interference fringes vanish.
Durr et al (Nature, 1998) used a standing light wave to scatter rubidium atoms. Added to this was a microwave source which changed the hyperfine state of the atoms, which could in principle be measured but supplies negligible momentum. Again the interference pattern was washed out.
Again, quantum mechanics has been shown to give a correct description non-identical wavefunctions do not interfere even if they describe the same particle! It does not matter whether the measurement of the internal states is actually performed: the mere fact that it could be is enough to destroy the interference.