Quantum-Mechanical Indirect Measurements

Abstract

So-called interaction-free measurements and “induced coherence without induced emission” experiments are analyzed from a macrorealistic point of view, that is up to the point of time that the whole wavefunction has developed into the macroscopic stage. From the measurement of the visibility of interference between light photons in a detector, conclusions can be drawn on the interaction properties of photons with solid matter at a remote spot; this matter does not need to be part of a real detector. This probably novel way of doing experiments might have practical applications. Certain recently presented quantum-mechanical phenomena can easily be understood by applying the macrorealistic approach, and new interpretations of the wavefunction are not nescessary.