Extending Wheeler's delayed-choice experiment to space

被引：33

作者：

Vedovato, Francesco ^{[1
]}

Agnesi, Costantino ^{[1
]}

Schiavon, Matteo ^{[1
]}

Dequal, Daniele ^{[1
,2
]}

Calderaro, Luca ^{[1
]}

Tomasin, Marco ^{[1
]}

Marangon, Davide G. ^{[1
]}

Stanco, Andrea ^{[1
]}

Luceri, Vincenza ^{[3
]}

Bianco, Giuseppe ^{[2
]}

Vallone, Giuseppe ^{[1
]}

Villoresi, Paolo ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Padua, Dipartimento Ingn Informaz, Padua, Italy

[2] Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Matera Laser Ranging Observ, Matera, Italy

[3] E GEOS SpA, Matera, Italy

来源：

SCIENCE ADVANCES | 2017年 / 3卷 / 10期

关键词：

QUANTUM-MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION; PHYSICAL REALITY; SATELLITE; COMMUNICATION; REALIZATION; KEY;

D O I：

10.1126/sciadv.1701180

中图分类号：

O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];

学科分类号：

07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;

摘要：

Gedankenexperiments have consistently played a major role in the development of quantum theory. A paradigmatic example is Wheeler's delayed-choice experiment, a wave-particle duality test that cannot be fully understood using only classical concepts. We implement Wheeler's idea along a satellite-ground interferometer that extends for thousands of kilometers in space. We exploit temporal and polarization degrees of freedom of photons reflected by a fast-moving satellite equipped with retroreflecting mirrors. We observe the complementary wave-or particle-like behaviors at the ground station by choosing the measurement apparatus while the photons are propagating from the satellite to the ground. Our results confirm quantum mechanical predictions, demonstrating the need of the dual wave-particle interpretation at this unprecedented scale. Our work paves the way for novel applications of quantum mechanics in space links involving multiple photon degrees of freedom.

引用

页数：7

共 44 条

[1] Quantum optics lifts off [J].