Eur. Phys. J. D (2014) 68: 34
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2013-40743-7

Regular Article

The two-particle two-slit experiment

Centro de Láseres Pulsados CLPU, Parque Científico, 37085 Villamayor, Salamanca, Spain

^a e-mail: psanchos@aemet.es

Received: 25 November 2013
Published online: 20 February 2014

Abstract

Identical two-particle interferometry provides a scenario where interference and exchange effects manifest at once. We present a detailed calculation of the detection patterns in the two-particle two-slit experiment by extending Feynman’s Gaussian slit approach to multi-mode states. We show the existence of two regimes depending on the mode distributions. In one of them we find a novel behavior for bosons, with detection patterns almost equal to those of distinguishable particles although the overlapping is large. As a byproduct of our analysis we conclude that the interaction at the diffraction grating is an efficient method to increase the initial overlapping. We propose a scheme, within the reach of present day technology, to experimentally verify our results.