Main > Photonics Research >  Volume 8 >  Issue 4 >  Page 04000622 > Article
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Accepted: Feb. 11, 2020

Posted: Feb. 13, 2020

Published Online: Apr. 1, 2020

The Author Email: Xue-Wen Chen (xuewen_chen@hust.edu.cn), Zhi-Yuan Li (phzyli@scut.edu.cn)

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Fenghua Qi, Zhiyuan Wang, Weiwang Xu, Xue-Wen Chen, Zhi-Yuan Li. Towards simultaneous observation of path and interference of a single photon in a modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer[J]. Photonics Research, 2020, 8(4): 04000622

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## Abstract

Classical wisdom of wave–particle duality regulates that a quantum object shows either the particle or wave nature but never both. Consequently, it would be impossible to observe simultaneously the complete wave and particle nature of the quantum object. Mathematically the principle requests that the interference visibility $V$ and which-path distinguishability $D$ satisfy an orthodox limit of $V2+D2≤1$. The present work reports a new wave–particle duality test experiment using single photons in a modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer to demonstrate the possibility of breaking the limit. The key element of the interferometer is a weakly scattering total internal reflection prism surface, which exhibits a pronounced single-photon interference with a visibility of up to 0.97 and simultaneously provides a path distinguishability of 0.83. Apparently, the result of $V2+D2≈1.63$ exceeds the orthodox limit set by the classical principle of wave–particle duality for single photons. We expect that more delicate experiments in the future should be able to demonstrate the ultimate limit of $V2+D2≈2$ and shed new light on the foundations of contemporary quantum mechanics.