Hamburg 2009 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 28: Quanteninformation: Photonen III

Q 28.6: Talk

Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 17:45–18:00, VMP 6 HS-D

Single molecule experiments challenge the strict particle aspect of the photon — •Karl Otto Greulich — Fritz Lipmann Institute Beutenbergstr.11 D07745 Jena

In the context of the photon, the definition of the term *particle* is not as straightforward as one might believe, with consequences for the meaning of the wave- particle dualism of light. The probably strictest definition of the photon as particle is given by the *accumulation time argument*, which requires that the spatial dimensions of the photon are much smaller than the absorbing atom or molecule and that its whole energy content is concentrated in this limited volume. Otherwise the extremely short interaction time of a few femtoseconds would make it impossible that a single atom or molecule can absorb a single, freely travelling photon. Here it is shown, using data from single molecule experiments, that the accumulation time argument has, so far, not yet been satisfied and therefore, the strict particle property of the photon is, so far, not been substantiated by experiments.