Suppose a photon travels through an interferometer with 2(L2−L1)= 327 nm. In arm 1, we place a horizontal polarizer, while in arm 2 we place a polarizer at 45 degrees. The wavelength of the laser is 500 nm.
Keep in mind: After traveling through a 45 degree polarizer, the photon will be represented by the wave function eikx2√(Ψh+Ψv).
After traveling through a horizonal polarizer the photon is represented by the wave function eikxΨh. To simplify this problem, we will ask the probability that a photon at the detector is horizontal or vertical. So the probability of observing a photon of any polarization will be normalized to one; that is, P(h)+P(v)=1. 1)
Suppose we block arm 1. What is the probability that a photon we observe at a detector is horizontally polarized? .5 2) Now we open arm 1 so that the sides can interfere. What's the probability that a photon observed at a detector is horizontally polarized? .582 3) We keep arm 1 open so that the sides can interfere.
What's the probability that a photon observed at a detector is vertically polarized?