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Let us recollect the introduction of the “heart of quantum mechanics” in station U1-6. There we saw that the behaviour of photons can be described by the combining probabilities with interference.
Probabilities are always positive numbers, which cannot become smaller when added. Thus, the phenomenon of the interference cannot be described by classical probabilities only.
We are thus leaving the “classical dimension”, by extending the probabilities P-White and P-Black by an invisible oscillation in the quantum dimension, visualised by rotating wheels. The radius corresponds to the square root of the probability for transmission (P-White) and reflection (P-Black). The phase of the rotating wheel may be either positive or negative, depending on the angle, thus allowing for constructive and destructive interference.
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We cannot observe it, and yet it is important once again to remind ourselves: PRIOR to measuring – in other words, prior to the interaction with the detectors – the photon is neither transmitted nor reflected. The amplitudes for both possibilities are in a superposition state, and it is not possible to say where the photon is localized.
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