>>9579694uh oh trouble in quantard paradise ...
"The experiment involves producing individual photons from a quantum dot and measuring their momentum indirectly through the polarization of each photon. Because polarization is correlated with momentum, but not exactly the same quantity, measurement of one doesn't strongly affect the other, preserving the state of the system fairly well.
LOL -ANOTHER MEASURING PROBLEM
The final position of the photon is measured using a charge-coupled device (CCD), similar to what you find in ordinary digital cameras or telescope imaging devices.
... the researchers were able to reconstruct the paths not of the individual photons but of the complete ensemble of all photons – yet due to the statistical nature of quantum mechanics, information about the individual photons within the system can still be inferred.(GUESSED)
One possible interpretation of the experiment is in line with the pilot wave model, formulated by Louis de Broglie with later additions by David Bohm. In this view, the wave function describes a statistical distribution that says what physical properties the point-like particle is likely to have – while the particles themselves may follow precise trajectories, even if those are very difficult to track.
Obviously a detailed discussion of that idea is too much for one post, so I won't try. However, if the complete trajectory of a photon can be observed in some way and its interference pattern still exists, it indicates that indeed a view of quantum physics consistent with a realists' perspective is possible (the kicking of rocks being completely optional).
Has the Copenhagen interpretation fallen? Has the pilot wave interpretation been vindicated? The cautious scientific answer must be "not yet".
However, measurements such as this make it harder to say smugly that photons don't follow any particular trajectory "
LMAO quantards in trouble again,
S A
