Download The length of photon

THE LENGTH OF PHOTON
R. Jablonski1, V. Ryssakov1, A. Al-Tabich1
1Warsaw
University of Technology, Faculty of Mechatronics, Institute of Metrology and
Biomedical Engineering
The problems of today challenge us to develop more accurate methods of manufacturing
and measurements. This trend requires precise determination of fundamental physical quantities.
Many manufacturing methods, such as laser processing or photolithography, are based on
precisely controlled beam of light and hence the quantum of this energy – photon. There is no
doubt that the photon size measurement would bring a very positive impact on the listed
manufacturing and measurement methods.
We demonstrate that the beatings of signal in the heterodyne interferometer can still be
observed, even for the single-photon level beam. With such low intensity, the delay between
successive photons reaches several microseconds, which translates to hundreds of meters. So if
subsequent photons do not overlap, how is it possible that the beating phenomenon can still be
observed? It could be easily explained, if we assume that the single photon length in fact
reaches those hundreds of meters. This would allow photon wave packets to overlap and
interfere. Taking into account the research[1] that has shown that the photon is unable to penetrate
the slit with a diameter of a fraction of wavelength, it seems that the most appropriate model can
be created in accordance to modified semi-classical (Copenhagen) approach. Photon would be a
needle-shaped particle with transverse dimension of the order of a fraction of wavelength and
length of the hundreds of meters. The paper presents the results of the described experiment
which leads to such conclusions.
References:
[1] G. Hunter, R.L.P. Wadlinger, Photons and Neutrinos as Electromagnetic Solitons. Physics Essays.
2 (1989), 158.