Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
10727297 Physics Letters A 2014 5 Pages PDF
Abstract
If an unstable particle used in a two-path interference experiment decays before reaching a detector, which-way information becomes available that reduces the detected interference fringe visibility V. Here we argue that even when an unstable particle does not decay while in the interferometer, a priori which-way information is still available in the form of path predictability P which depends on the particle's decay rate Γ. We further demonstrate that in a matter-wave Mach-Zehnder interferometer using an excited atom with an appropriately tuned cavity, P is related to V through the duality relation P2+V2=1.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Physics and Astronomy Physics and Astronomy (General)
Authors
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