Division of accelerators, cryogenics and magnetism

A scientist from IRFU published an article in the Physical Review A presenting a diffraction model based on the concept of quantum measurement [1]. This model represents a new approach because the amplitude of the diffracted wave is usually calculated using classical methods of wave optics. Several specific effects of the quantum aspect of the model are predicted, three of which can be the subject of experimental tests: a typical damping of the light intensity at large diffraction angles, an angular factor different from that of classical theories and a characteristic parameter of a link between the polarization and the momentum of the diffracted photons. Experiments carried out at IRAMIS in the coming months will make it possible to simultaneously measure the momentum and polarization of the detected photons and thus validate or not the proposed model.