Photon Gates

methods for measuring the interaction size of a photon

Harrison Redfern

8.4.2025

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The Solution to Maxwell’s Equations

Maxwell’s Equations → d’Alembert’s wave equation

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Ling et al. OpenStax

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y

What’s in the literature?

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Proceedings of SPIE 5866183-191, 183-191 (2005)

DOI: 10.1117/12.613287

“For circularly polarized states the soliton’s envelope is a circular ellipsoid whose length is the observed wavelength (λ), and whose diameter is λ/π” (1).

The Bohr Model of the Photon

Hunter et al.

λ/π

Max

Field Strength

Field Strength

radial distance

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Expanded Photon Model

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for

Field Strength

Radial Distance

Radial Component

Angular (polarization) Component

Propagation Component

Make it polarized

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Field Strength

Circularly Polarized Photon

Field Strength

⁰ Angle ^π/2

Max

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0

λ/π

E

Linearly Polarized Photon

z

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x

Main Questions

Size?

Shape?

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Polarization and Malus’s Law

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✅

Polarization and Malus’s Law

Malus’s Law:

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Axis of Polarization

E

E_॥

E_丄

Polarization and Malus’s Law

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Single Slit Polarizer

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E

0^o

Polarization Affects

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decreasing size

Intensity

Angle

-90^o

90^o

Unpolarized Intensity(I₀)

Polarized Intensity (I_p)

Slit Effects

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# of unaffected photons

Angle

-90^o

90^o

E

0^o

90^o

40^o

Combined Effects

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Intensity

Angle

-90^o

90^o

Polarization Effect

Slit Effect

My Set-Up

Transmitter

Multimeter

LabVIEW

Receiver

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Polarizer Stand

ƒ = 10 GHz

λ = 3 cm

Results

Single Slit and Polarization Effects both present

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Angle

Intensity (V)

Results

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d ≈ 11(2) mm

λ/π = 9.5 mm

V₀ / (V_P + V₀)

Next Steps

Remaining Questions

• Take more data in the 0-9 mm range and for slits > 18 mm

• How can the exact shape and dimensions be further studied?
• Is it possible to isolate the slit effect or account for it in my experimental model?
• physical understanding → more robust experiment

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References

Questions?

G. Hunter, M. Kowalski, C. Alexandrescu, Proceedings of SPIE 5866, 183-191, 183-191 (2005).

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Outline

• Electromagnetic Radiation
• What’s in the literature?
• Expanded Photon Model
• Investigation using Polarizers and Malus’ Law
• What has been working
• Next steps

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Reality

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We could find size from this… but need more data

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Systematic Issue

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Eravant

Eravant

The Fix

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