A Variant and Explanation of the Delayed Choice Experiment

Abstract

In this work we suggest a variant of the remarkable Wheeler's delayed choice gedanken experiment. In our experiment, single photon described by a superposition state with two terms dynamically interacts with an atom. Preparation of the atom in any of two excited states can be realized practically in the last moment before interaction. For atom in the first excited state there is practically none dynamical interaction between atom and photon so that the interference effects on the photon can be detected later by a photo plate. For atom in the second excited state dynamical interaction between photon and atom causes certainly the stimulated emission of a new photon that moves coherently with the first photon. Both photons do a super-system described by an entangled quantum state. But in this case photo plate, that realizes simultaneously sub-systemic measurement at any photon, does not detect interference effects. We suggest a simple explanation of given as well as original variant of the delayed choice experiment in full agreement with standard quantum mechanical formalism.