1. The controversy about interference of photons.
- Author
-
Bhatta VS
- Subjects
- History, 20th Century, Photons, Lasers history, Lasers adverse effects
- Abstract
In the 1960s, the demonstration of interference effects using two laser-beams raised the question: can two photons interfere? Its plausibility contested Dirac's dictum, "Interference between two different photons never occurs". Disagreements about this conflict led to a controversy. This paper will chart the controversy's contour and show that it evolved over two phases. Subsequently, I investigate the reasons for its perpetuation. The controversy was initiated and fuelled by several misinterpretations of the dictum. I also argue that Dirac's dictum is not applicable to two photon interference as they belong to different contexts of interference. Recognising this resolves the controversy., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
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