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Actual paper: https://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6034/1170 https://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6034/1170 Abstract: "A consequence of the quantum mechani
by idupree 14y ago
Actual paper:
https://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6034/1170 https://www.sciencemag.org/content/332/6034/1170
Abstract: "A consequence of the quantum mechanical uncertainty principle is that one may not discuss the path or “trajectory” that a quantum particle takes, because any measurement of position irrevocably disturbs the momentum, and vice versa. Using weak measurements, however, it is possible to operationally define a set of trajectories for an ensemble of quantum particles. We sent single photons emitted by a quantum dot through a double-slit interferometer and reconstructed these trajectories by performing a weak measurement of the photon momentum, postselected according to the result of a strong measurement of photon position in a series of planes. The results provide an observationally grounded description of the propagation of subensembles of quantum particles in a two-slit interferometer."
Relevant concept: "weak measurement" (wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_measurement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weak_measurement ).
I don't know enough quantum mechanics to understand it, but I do know enough to know that the Nature summary is hype.