Where Photons Have Been: Nowhere Without All Components of Their Wavefunctions

A nested interferometer experiment by Danan et al. is discussed and some claims are evaluated concerning the whereabouts of the photon, primarily within the context of time-symmetric interpretations of quantum theory, including the Two-State Vector Formalism (TSVF) and the Transactional Interpretation (TI). It is pointed out that the TSVF account fails to predict the observed data based only on the first-order wavefunction component. It is shown that the Transactional Interpretation readily accounts for all the observed phenomena.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Entropy
Published
2025-11-07
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/e27111142
Primary Topic
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Where Photons Have Been: Nowhere Without All Components of Their Wavefunctions

Ruth E. Kastner
Entropy
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
article

Where Photons Have Been: Nowhere Without All Components of Their Wavefunctions

Ruth E. Kastner
article en

Abstract

A nested interferometer experiment by Danan et al. is discussed and some claims are evaluated concerning the whereabouts of the photon, primarily within the context of time-symmetric interpretations of quantum theory, including the Two-State Vector Formalism (TSVF) and the Transactional Interpretation (TI). It is pointed out that the TSVF account fails to predict the observed data based only on the first-order wavefunction component. It is shown that the Transactional Interpretation readily accounts for all the observed phenomena.

EntropyVol. 27(11)
University of Maryland, College Park (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 74%
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Where Photons Have Been: Nowhere Without All Components of Their Wavefunctions — Ruth E. Kastner · Entropy (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS