Exotic looped trajectories via quantum marking.

Abstract

We provide an analytical theoretical study of exotic looped trajectories (ELTs) in a double-slit interferometer with quantum marking. We propose using an excited Rydberg-like atom and superconducting cavities as which-way detectors, just as in the Scully–Englert–Walther interferometer. We show that the resonant interaction between the atom and the field in the cavities can be used to eliminate the effect of non-exotic trajectories and exhibit only the effect of ELTs in the interference pattern. We quantitatively describe our results for Rubidium atoms and suggest this framework as a scheme to measure exotic looped paths and deviations from the standard superposition principle.