Quantum erasure within the optical Stern-Gerlach model
- Authors: CHIANELLO M; TUMMINELLO M; VAGLICA A; VETRI G
- Publication year: 2004
- Type: Articolo in rivista (Articolo in rivista)
- Key words: DEFLECTION
- OA Link: http://hdl.handle.net/10447/10762
Abstract
In the optical Stern-Gerlach effect the two branches in which the incoming atomic packet splits up can display interference pattern outside the cavity when a field measurement is made which erases the which-way information on the quantum paths the system can follow. On the contrary, the mere possibility to acquire this information causes a decoherence effect which cancels out the interference pattern. A phase-space analysis is also carried out to investigate on the negativity of the Wigner function and on the connection between its covariance matrix and the distinguishability of the quantum paths.