It is well known that two coherent optical light-waves are made interfere in LIGO and VIRGO Gravitational Wave (GW) systems (similarly to MMX experiment). The interferometers are configured in such a way that the interference is normally destructive, in order to detect differences from that state in presence of GW.
As a matter of fact, out of two waves generated, normally, nothing is detected after their interaction in the interferometer.
Is it the crystal of the interferometer to thermalize the energy of the EM-waves? Because otherwise if EM-waves disappeared thoroughly without a trace that would violate the conservation laws..
Fritz Caspers ,
if there is no thermalization then so some energy must disappears...
Very old story..in analogy to microwave sum and delta hybid..as student problem to be solved using scattering parameters..the catch is in the signal splitter..unused energy reflected to the source or dissipated in dummy load
Fritz Caspers ,
so a destructive interference of light implies reflection back, which is dissipated in dummy loads?
Where there is destructive interference in one place there is always somewhere where the interference is constructive. Two beams add to give zero power in some places and 4 times power of one beam in other places. The average power is twice the power in one beam. Power is proportional to the number rate of photons (at the same frequency), so the total number of photons remains the same.
With a half silvered mirror (prism face) used as a signal combiner: as well as the signal from beam 1 straight through (x direction to x direction) added to the beam 2 signal reflected (y direction to x direction), you get the other half of both beams which is beam 1 reflected (x direction to y direction) added to beam 2 straight through (y direction to y direction). As the phase between the two beams changes the output power changes between the two directions.
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I think figure 4 shows a simplified layout.
I think you will find that the two detectors are B1 and B2, and that the power alternates between them, if the phase difference is ever big enough.
The question is mixing 2, incommensurable models of light. Choose 1 and rethink. If photons, then photons which would normally be in the destructive fringe are re-directed to the area which is called constructive.
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