Van Bistrow is Director of Instructional Laboratories at the University of Chicago. His M.S. degree in Physics and M.A.T. in Physics are both from the University of Chicago. He has worked in the instructional lab setting for 37 years and since 2007 has been coordinating the Workshop on Intermediate and Advanced Laboratories at the AAPT national summer meetings. He is a member of the AAPT Advanced Labs Task Force.
Van Bistrow, Director of Instructional Laboratories, University of Chicago Kersten Physics Teaching Center, 5720 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. Email: vanb@uchicago.edu. Telephone: 773-702-7013
Mark Chantell received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Arizona. He is Research Associate in High Energy Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, and has 13 years of experience in physics instructional laboratories.
Mark Chantell, Ph.D. University of Chicago Kersten Physics Teaching Center, 5720 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60637. Email: mc2@uchicago.edu. Telephone: 773-702-7012
The classical model of interference of light presumes that continuous, oscillating electric fields from a single source are split, sent through different paths and re-combined. Depending on the relative phase of the re-combined fields, one obtains constructive or destructive interference.
This experiment shows that even single photons, moving alone through an interferometer, exhibit interference. Some fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics are studied, divorced from atomic physics.
Optical apparatus used in the University of Chicago Single Photon Interference experiment.
This experiment enables us to test quantum predictions which are in direct conflict with classical E & M and are intuitively difficult. The measurements are made possible by the use of single photon counting modules, which have become less expensive in recent years.
Participants will gain experience with design considerations, production of correlated (entangled) photons, optical alignment, piezo displacement of optical components, and coincidence counting techniques.
This will be a two-day immersion, with emphasis on parts needed, set-up and alignment, and coincidence techniques. Participants will experiment with distinguishability of paths, vary path lengths with a piezo-driven mirror to obtain data of coincidence counting rate vs. path-length difference. All apparatus for the experiment will be provided on-site. Participants should bring means of taking notes. Protective goggles will be provided.