Quantum interference and inelastic scattering in a which-way device

A which-way device is one which is designed to detect which of two paths is taken by a quantum particle. One such device is represented by an Aharonov–Bohm ring with a quantum dot on one branch. A charged cantilever or spring is brought close to the dot as a detector of the presence of an electron. In this paper we show that, contrary to popular belief, it is in fact possible to change the state of the oscillator while preserving the quantum interference phenomenon, but that this tells us little about the path traversed by the particle.