js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag) (11/13/84)
The earlier notes on destructive interferance started me thinking on the
subject, and I came up with this question which I hope someone out there
can clear up.
THOUGHT EXPERIMENT #17
Suppose there are two photons, coherant and 180 degrees out of phase.
Suppose they are converging together at a very slight angle, like this:
\ |
\ |
\ |
\ |
\ |
\ |
\ |
\|
X
They reach point X at exactly the same time, and presumably travel onward
in the same direction they were going. But when they were at point X, the
vector sum of the E and M fields seems to be zero, for an arbitrarily small
angle of convergence. But if at any time, BOTH the E and M fields are zero,
then THERE AREN'T ANY PHOTONS THERE! Where do they go? How do they get back?
How long are they gone? As you can see, the vector sum is never exactly
zero unless the angle of convergence is zero. But I don't see why it
couldn't be zero. And in that case, they converge along an entire line,
and effectively dissapear, never to return.
But they can't DO that!
Maybe it would be like occupying the same energy state, and they really
can't do that?
Maybe I've made some fundamental error? (I can do that.)
Jeff Sonntag
ihnp4!Mhuxl!mhuxt!js2j