Physics:Quantum Mach-Zehnder interferometer
The Mach-Zehnder interferometer is a Book I topic in the Quantum Collection. It is an interferometer in which a beam is split into two paths and later recombined so that phase differences appear as changes in output intensity or detection probabilities. In quantum mechanics the device can be used with single photons, atoms, or other particles, making it a clear example of path superposition and interference. It connects beam splitters, phase shifts, which-path information, complementarity, and quantum measurement. Variants are used in precision metrology, quantum optics, delayed-choice experiments, and tests of wave-particle duality.
Overview
Placeholder: explain how a Mach-Zehnder interferometer splits and recombines quantum amplitudes to reveal phase-dependent interference.
Key ideas
Placeholder: cover beam splitters, mirrors, path amplitudes, phase shifts, detectors, interference.
Interferometer layout
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Path amplitudes
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Phase dependence
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Single-photon experiments
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See also
Table of contents (217 articles)
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References
Source attribution: Physics:Quantum Mach-Zehnder interferometer
