Double-slit optical ventriloquism: High phase sensitivity via diffraction patterns

Abstract

High-sensitivity phase sensing is traditionally performed using complex interferometric configurations. As an alternative, we present a robust and simple system based on the classical Young's double-slit experiment that leverages the "optical ventriloquism" effect to amplify phase signals. This phenomenon arises from super-oscillations near intensity minima, which cause an anomalous shift of the local wave vector as a consequence of weak-value behavior. In this work, we constructed an accessible experimental setup that translates minute phase differences into measurable spatial displacements of the diffraction pattern. We compare the detection performance of an sCMOS camera and a quadrant-cell detector, analyzing the noise sources that limit the system's sensitivity. Our results demonstrate that engineering the dark regions of simple diffraction patterns can provide a foundation for advanced optical sensing technologies with minimal structural complexity.