Can wave-particle duality be based on the uncertainty relation?

Wave and particle properties of a quantum object cannot be observed simulta neously. In particular, the fringe visibility in an interferometer is limit ed by the amount of which-way information which can be obtained. This limit is set by the recently discovered duality relation. So far, all derivation s of the duality relation are independent of Heisenberg's uncertainty relat ion. Here we demonstrate that it is alternatively possible to derive the du ality relation in the form of an uncertainty relation for some suitably cho sen observables. (C) 2000 American Association of Physics Teachers.