The Simplest Double Slit: Interference and Entanglement in Double Photoionization of H2
The wave nature of particles is rarely seen in nature. One reason is their very short de Broglie wavelengths in most situations. However, even with wavelengths close to the size of their surroundings, they couple to their environment, e.g. by gravity, Coulomb interaction, or thermal radiation. These couplings shift the phase of the waves, often in an uncontrolled way, hence yielding varying amounts of decoherence i.e. loss of phase integrity. Decoherence is thought to be a main cause of the transition from quantum to classical behavior. How much interaction is necessary and how big an environment is needed to induce the onset of classical behavior? Here we show that a photoelectron and two protons form a minimum particle/slit system, and that a minimum environment can be no more than a single additional electron. We observe interference 'fringes' in the angular distribution of a single electron and the loss of fringe visibility caused by its Coulomb interaction with a second electron. While, at the same time, the correlated momenta of the entangled electron pair continue to exhibit quantum interference.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Chemical Sciences Division
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC02-05CH11231
- OSTI ID:
- 1001039
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-4105E; SCEHDK; TRN: US1100264
- Journal Information:
- Science, Vol. 318; Related Information: Journal Publication Date: 11/09/2007; ISSN 0193-4511
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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