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Prime Number Decomposition, the Hyperbolic Function and Multi-Path Michelson Interferometers

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Abstract

The phase φ of any wave is determined by the ratio x/λ consisting of the distance x propagated by the wave and its wavelength λ. Hence, the dependence of φ on λ constitutes an analogue system for the mathematical operation of division, that is to obtain the hyperbolic function f(ξ)≡1/ξ. We take advantage of this observation to decompose integers into primes and implement this approach towards factorization of numbers in a multi-path Michelson interferometer. This work is part of a larger program geared towards unraveling the connections between quantum mechanics and number theory. We briefly summarize this aspect.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA

    V. Tamma & Y. H. Shih

  2. Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70100, Bari, Italy

    V. Tamma

  3. Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742-4111, USA

    C. O. Alley

  4. Institut für Quantenphysik, Universität Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany

    W. P. Schleich

Authors
  1. V. Tamma
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  2. C. O. Alley
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  3. W. P. Schleich
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  4. Y. H. Shih
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Correspondence to V. Tamma.

Additional information

It is a great pleasure and honor for us to dedicate this paper to our friends Danny Greenberger and Helmut Rauch on the occasion of their birthdays. We are extremely happy to join the community in celebrating in this Festschrift their many scientific achievements. Both have taught us all through their theories or experiments so much about quantum interference. However, most importantly aside from being world famous scientists they are also wonderful human beings. We are very fortunate to have them as friends. Happy birthday, Danny and Helmut!

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Tamma, V., Alley, C.O., Schleich, W.P. et al. Prime Number Decomposition, the Hyperbolic Function and Multi-Path Michelson Interferometers. Found Phys 42, 111–121 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-010-9522-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-010-9522-3

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