Single-photon test of hyper-complex quantum theories using a metamaterial
| العنوان: | Single-photon test of hyper-complex quantum theories using a metamaterial |
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| المؤلفون: | Lorenzo M, Procopio, Lee A, Rozema, Zi Jing, Wong, Deny R, Hamel, Kevin, O'Brien, Xiang, Zhang, Borivoje, Dakić, Philip, Walther |
| المصدر: | Nature Communications |
| سنة النشر: | 2016 |
| مصطلحات موضوعية: | Physics::Optics, Article |
| الوصف: | In standard quantum mechanics, complex numbers are used to describe the wavefunction. Although this has so far proven sufficient to predict experimental results, there is no theoretical reason to choose them over real numbers or generalizations of complex numbers, that is, hyper-complex numbers. Experiments performed to date have proven that real numbers are insufficient, but the need for hyper-complex numbers remains an open question. Here we experimentally probe hyper-complex quantum theories, studying one of their deviations from complex quantum theory: the non-commutativity of phases. We do so by passing single photons through a Sagnac interferometer containing both a metamaterial with a negative refractive index, and a positive phase shifter. To accomplish this we engineered a fishnet metamaterial to have a negative refractive index at 780 nm. We show that the metamaterial phase commutes with other phases with high precision, allowing us to place limits on a particular prediction of hyper-complex quantum theories. Hyper-complex quantum theories are generalizations of quantum mechanics where amplitudes are generalized complex numbers. Here the authors study phase commutation in a photonic experiment, reporting consistency with standard quantum mechanics and placing precise bounds on hyper-complex theories. |
| تدمد: | 2041-1723 |
| URL الوصول: | https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=pmid________::5da8b01f064582eb5d3e1407d3f69917 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28429711 |
| حقوق: | OPEN |
| رقم الأكسشن: | edsair.pmid..........5da8b01f064582eb5d3e1407d3f69917 |
| قاعدة البيانات: | OpenAIRE |
| تدمد: | 20411723 |
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