Abstract
Interference of light and material particles is described with a unified model which does not need to assume the wave-particle duality. A moving particle is associated with a region of spatial correlated points named coherence cone. Its geometry depends on photon or particle momentum and on the parameters of the experimental setup. The final interference pattern is explained as a spatial distribution of particles caused by the coherence cone geometry. In the present context, the wave front superposition principle, wave-particle duality and wave-collapse lose their meaning. Fits of observed single electron and single molecule interference patterns together with the simulation of expected near-field molecule interference (Talbot carpet) demonstrate the model validity.
Highlights
Interference of light and material particles is usually described with the superposition principle applied to waves
We present an original solution of this problem that allows associating to a propagating object a region of spatial correlated points named coherence cone
Interference of particles moving in field free space is described with a model that does not associate wave properties to moving corpuscles
Summary
Interference of light and material particles is usually described with the superposition principle applied to waves. The two-point correlation W rj , ri = ψ rj ψ * (ri ) , with j,i = 1, 2 , and asterisk denoting ensemble average and complex conjugated respectively, is a well-established method to describe optical interference [1] This mathematical approach is extended here to account for the propagation of single particles through an interferometer. Equation (5a) denotes the transport of the physical observable from a fixed ξA to any rA For this reason, the vertex of the cone defined by the kernel of Equation (5a), which acts as source of WR , is named real point emitter. WV oscillates between positive and negative values with average zero without affecting the total number of particles (Appendix 1) For this reason, the vertex of the cone defined by the kernel of Equation (5b), which acts as source of WV , is named virtual point emitter. Equation (1) does not define the dynamic of a discrete ensemble of single particles but it describes the particle spatial probability density
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
