The controversy about interference of photons

IF 1.4 2区哲学 Q1 HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Pub Date : 2024-07-08 DOI:10.1016/j.shpsa.2024.06.003

Varun S. Bhatta

引用次数: 0

Abstract

In the 1960s, the demonstration of interference effects using two laser-beams raised the question: can two photons interfere? Its plausibility contested Dirac’s dictum, “Interference between two different photons never occurs”. Disagreements about this conflict led to a controversy. This paper will chart the controversy’s contour and show that it evolved over two phases. Subsequently, I investigate the reasons for its perpetuation. The controversy was initiated and fuelled by several misinterpretations of the dictum. I also argue that Dirac’s dictum is not applicable to two photon interference as they belong to different contexts of interference. Recognising this resolves the controversy.

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关于光子干涉的争议。

20 世纪 60 年代，利用两束激光演示干涉效应提出了一个问题：两个光子会发生干涉吗？它的合理性与狄拉克的论断 "两个不同光子之间永远不会发生干涉 "相矛盾。对这一矛盾的分歧引发了一场争论。本文将描绘这场争论的轮廓，并说明它经历了两个阶段。随后，我将探究其长期存在的原因。对狄拉克箴言的几种误读引发了这场争论，并起到了推波助澜的作用。我还认为，狄拉克判据不适用于双光子干涉，因为它们属于不同的干涉背景。认识到这一点，争议就迎刃而解了。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 管理科学-科学史与科学哲学

CiteScore

2.50

自引率

10.00%

发文量

166

审稿时长

6.6 weeks

期刊介绍： Studies in History and Philosophy of Science is devoted to the integrated study of the history, philosophy and sociology of the sciences. The editors encourage contributions both in the long-established areas of the history of the sciences and the philosophy of the sciences and in the topical areas of historiography of the sciences, the sciences in relation to gender, culture and society and the sciences in relation to arts. The Journal is international in scope and content and publishes papers from a wide range of countries and cultural traditions.