#2991: Beamsplitters

XKCD comic, described below.
Transcript
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[Cross section of a telescope with some parts of the image darkened to represent the path of light, with portions where the light would be more concentrated being darker]

[A large column of light comes in from the left panel border, labeled "Incoming Light."]

[The "Incoming Light" column is focused by a large curved mirror labeled "Primary Mirror," then focused again by a much smaller mirror labeled "Secondary Mirror."]

[After bouncing off the secondary mirror, it passes through a beamsplitter. Half of the light passes through to a sensor, but the other half is reflected into a secret Solar Panel connected to a battery labeled "Power sold to grid."]

[Caption below the panel:]

Astronomy News: The International Astronomical Union has finally banned beamsplitters, optical devices used by scientists to embezzle light from their instruments.


(Sourced from explainxkcd.com)

Title text:Under quantum tax law, photons sent through a beamsplitter don't actually choose which path they took, or incur a tax burden, until their wavefunction collapses when the power is sold.


ExplainOriginal