Interference in Quantum Mechanics

Abstract

Physicist and Nobel Laureate Richard P. Feynman once remarked, "We choose to examine a phenomenon which is impossible, absolutely impossible, to explain in any classical way, and which has in it the heart of quantum mechanics. In reality, it contains the only mystery. We cannot make the mystery go away by “explaining” how it works. We will just tell you how it works. In telling you how it works, we will have told you about the basic peculiarities of all quantum mechanics"1. The phenomenon of interference is ubiquitous in the quantum world and indeed holds within itself the explanation for many counterintuitive quantum phenomena. In this review, we choose to focus on a few ramifications and manifestations of quantum interference that have deep implications for the foundations of quantum mechanics. These include single-photon or second-order interference, two-photon or fourth-order interference and higher-order interference.