Towards Simultaneous Observation of Path and Interference of Single Photon in a Modified Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

Classical wisdom of wave-particle duality says that it is impossible to observe simultaneously the wave and particle nature of microscopic object. Mathematically the principle requests that the interference visibility V and which-path distinguishability D satisfy an orthodox limit of square(V)+square(D)<=1. This work presents a new wave-particle duality test experiment with single photon in a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer and convincingly show the possibility of breaking the limit. The key element of the interferometer is a weakly-scattering total-internal reflection prism surface, which exhibits pronounced single-photon interference with a visibility up to 0.97 and simultaneously provides path distinguishability of 0.83. Apparently square(V)+square(D)=1.63 far exceeds the orthodox limit set by the principle of wave-particle duality for single photon. It is expected that more delicate experiments in future should be able to demonstrate the ultimate regime of square(V)+square(D) approaching 2 and shed new light on the foundations of contemporary quantum mechanics.

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