Question: In doing a new quantum eraser experiment we rotate the polarization of the light going through one of the arms of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer using three polarizers. The photons that go into the interferometer are vertically polarized. See Fig.
a. In the polarization-rotating arm the transmission axis (TA) of the first polarizer is oriented 30? with the vertical, the TA of the second polarizer is oriented 60? relative to the vertical, and the TA of the third polarizer is oriented horizontally. What is the probability that the photon will go through all three polarizers?
b. In the other arm of the interferometer we want to keep the orientation of the polarization vertical but we want to provide a probability amplitude for transmission through the two polarizers that is the same as the one in the other arm. Explain how we can do this with two polarizers, indicating the angle that each polarizer makes with the vertical. Make a diagram.
Fig. - Diagram of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with polarizers