Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2005/iii/paper-58/1/i/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2005 iii Paper 58 1 i Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-10-03 Updated 2026-10-14
Use the symmetric lossless beam splitter convention with transmission amplitude and reflection amplitude . The two mirrors contribute the same fixed quantum phase, which can be suppressed. At the rightward port , the upper-arm route has one reflection at BS1 and one transmission at BS2, while the lower-arm route has one transmission at BS1 and one reflection at BS2. Their probability amplitudes therefore add asBy the Born rule,For the upward port, the two amplitudes are and , giving and . They sum to one, as required for an ideal lossless Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Thus is bright at zero relative quantum phase and dark at quantum phase . A fixed unequal reflection quantum phase or a swapped port labeling would shift the fringe; the stated convention fixes the port and quantum phase calibration used below.
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