What happens if you split a single photon of light?

Question

I read in a book written by Michael Crichton (Time line), that a proof or method of deteriming that parrell universes exists, is by splitting a photon of light. I realise the book is a fictional novel, but I know Michael Crichton, extensively researches his novels, beofer he publishes anything. Basically, if you take a beam of light, i.e. a tourch and shine it at a cardboard that has holes in it, and the cardboard is held a few inches in front of a white wall. the Photons of light split, such that a reflection is made on the white wall. However if you apply filiters to that light, to the extent that only 1 photon remains (i.e. it cannot be split any further) , the reflection (all be it a very faint one), still remains, indicating that the photon was indeed split (which would be impossible?). This refelction is the result of a parrell universes effect on this "world/universe".

My question is...Is the above statement correct, and why?

Answer 1

According to quantum mechanics each single free photon is associated with a wave function(its like a mathematical model of the photon).This wave function, as it encounters the slit, travels through every possible route i.e.,any number of slits present and then interfere on the other side to give the characteristic pattern of reflections. This is the essence of the "sum over histories" concept(here "history" refers to a particular path of wave function through a slit).
Now it is supposed that parallel universes exist in different states of "histories" i.e.,with different states of the same wave function but now not of a single particle but of everything present. Maybe the author is trying to associate between these two things.
And I think that it may be right.

Answer 2

Well....... Single photon/slit interference experiments can be interpreted that way. But a photon is a particle that is also a wave (the wave/particle duality).

Crichton has used some very contemporary science to write a pretty good book. But if you *really* want a good explanation of it (in easy to understand terms), read David Deutsch's book, 'the Fabric of Reality'.

HTH ☺


Doug

Answer 3

It is actually postulated that a photon consists of an electron and a positron (an anti-electron) - these two annihilate each other but energy still remains in the form of light.

It has yet to be proven as fact, but it is a fairly good concept to examine, due to electrons being 'leptons' (i.e. fundamental particles - similar to quarks)

Try studying some Quantum Mechanics to look at it for yourself - it's all about the wavefunction being continuous. (Remember though, as soon as you 'see' something - you cannot measure it because you have seen it - it is giving off photons and therefore radiating energy !!! Complex eh ??

Answer 4

Look up for Young's experiment, it demonstrates that photons can move in more than one direction at the same time!
Perhaps it is linked with a parallel universe with 2 temporal dimensions, where objects can move in 2 different direction at the same time!
But hey, that's just speculation!