Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation
Recently, Kocsis et al (2011 Science 332 1170) reported the observation of ‘average trajectories of single photons’ in a two-slit interference experiment. This was possible by using the quantum weak-measurement method, which implies averaging over many events, i.e. in fact, a multi-photon limit of c...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2013-01-01
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| Series: | New Journal of Physics |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/7/073022 |
| _version_ | 1797751594353164288 |
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| author | Konstantin Y Bliokh Aleksandr Y Bekshaev Abraham G Kofman Franco Nori |
| author_facet | Konstantin Y Bliokh Aleksandr Y Bekshaev Abraham G Kofman Franco Nori |
| author_sort | Konstantin Y Bliokh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, Kocsis et al (2011 Science 332 1170) reported the observation of ‘average trajectories of single photons’ in a two-slit interference experiment. This was possible by using the quantum weak-measurement method, which implies averaging over many events, i.e. in fact, a multi-photon limit of classical linear optics. We give a classical-optics interpretation of this experiment and other related problems. It appears that weak measurements of the local momentum of photons made by Kocsis et al represent measurements of the Poynting vector in an optical field. We consider both the real and imaginary parts of the local momentum and show that their measurements have been realized in classical optics using small-probe particles. We also examine the appearance of ‘anomalous’ values of the local momentum: either negative (backflow) or exceeding the wavenumber (superluminal propagation). These features appear to be closely related to vortices and evanescent waves. Finally, we revisit a number of older works and find examples of photon trajectories and anomalous-momentum measurements in various optical experiments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:50:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bf63183b1ed4450bc2d3d61642f6303 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1367-2630 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:50:48Z |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Journal of Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bf63183b1ed4450bc2d3d61642f63032023-08-08T11:10:49ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302013-01-0115707302210.1088/1367-2630/15/7/073022Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretationKonstantin Y Bliokh0Aleksandr Y Bekshaev1Abraham G Kofman2Franco Nori3CEMS, RIKEN, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; A Usikov Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics, NASU, Kharkov 61085, UkraineI I Mechnikov National University , Dvorianska 2, Odessa 65082, UkraineCEMS, RIKEN, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Physics Department, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1040, USACEMS, RIKEN, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Physics Department, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1040, USARecently, Kocsis et al (2011 Science 332 1170) reported the observation of ‘average trajectories of single photons’ in a two-slit interference experiment. This was possible by using the quantum weak-measurement method, which implies averaging over many events, i.e. in fact, a multi-photon limit of classical linear optics. We give a classical-optics interpretation of this experiment and other related problems. It appears that weak measurements of the local momentum of photons made by Kocsis et al represent measurements of the Poynting vector in an optical field. We consider both the real and imaginary parts of the local momentum and show that their measurements have been realized in classical optics using small-probe particles. We also examine the appearance of ‘anomalous’ values of the local momentum: either negative (backflow) or exceeding the wavenumber (superluminal propagation). These features appear to be closely related to vortices and evanescent waves. Finally, we revisit a number of older works and find examples of photon trajectories and anomalous-momentum measurements in various optical experiments.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/7/073022 |
| spellingShingle | Konstantin Y Bliokh Aleksandr Y Bekshaev Abraham G Kofman Franco Nori Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation New Journal of Physics |
| title | Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation |
| title_full | Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation |
| title_fullStr | Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation |
| title_short | Photon trajectories, anomalous velocities and weak measurements: a classical interpretation |
| title_sort | photon trajectories anomalous velocities and weak measurements a classical interpretation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/7/073022 |
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