Mach–Zehnder Virtual Experiment

Optical table

Running

1.0 mW

Experiment model

Each output's intensity is read directly and every beam glows with its power.

Wavelength

Laser power

Phase shifter (arm A)

Mirror M2 displacement

At 45° incidence, moving the mirror by x along its normal lengthens arm B by √2·x.

Air refractive-index difference

ppm

n_B − n_A in parts per million; even 1 ppm shifts the phase noticeably.

Turn the phase shifter or move mirror M2 and watch the light swap between D1 and D2; then do the same with single photons.

100.0%

1.000 mW

0.0%

0.000 mW

Energy conservation

Holds

D1100.0%

D20.0%

Absorbed0.0%

Input100.0%