Second-order temporal interference of two independent light beams at an asymmetrical beam splitter

The second-order temporal interference of classical and nonclassical light at an asymmetrical beam splitter is discussed based on two-photon interference in Feynman's path integral theory. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern is determined by the properties of the superposed light...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChinese physics B Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 187 - 193
Main Author 刘建彬 王婧婧 徐卓
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published 2017
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ISSN1674-1056
2058-3834
DOI10.1088/1674-1056/26/1/014201

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Summary:The second-order temporal interference of classical and nonclassical light at an asymmetrical beam splitter is discussed based on two-photon interference in Feynman's path integral theory. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern is determined by the properties of the superposed light beams, the ratio between the intensities of these two light beams, and the reflectivity of the asymmetrical beam splitter. Some requirements about the asymmetrical beam splitter have to be satisfied in order to ensure that the visibility of the second-order interference pattern of nonclassical light beams exceeds the classical limit. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern of photons emitted by two independent single-photon sources is independent of the ratio between the intensities. These conclusions are important for the researches and applications in quantum optics and quantum information when an asymmetrical beam splitter is employed.
Bibliography:Jianbin Liu1,2,Jingjing Wang1,2,Zhuo Xu1,2(1. Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China;2.International Center for Dielectric Research, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi 'an 710049, China)
two-photon interference; Feynman's path integral theory; asymmetrical beam splitter
The second-order temporal interference of classical and nonclassical light at an asymmetrical beam splitter is discussed based on two-photon interference in Feynman's path integral theory. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern is determined by the properties of the superposed light beams, the ratio between the intensities of these two light beams, and the reflectivity of the asymmetrical beam splitter. Some requirements about the asymmetrical beam splitter have to be satisfied in order to ensure that the visibility of the second-order interference pattern of nonclassical light beams exceeds the classical limit. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern of photons emitted by two independent single-photon sources is independent of the ratio between the intensities. These conclusions are important for the researches and applications in quantum optics and quantum information when an asymmetrical beam splitter is employed.
11-5639/O4
ISSN:1674-1056
2058-3834
DOI:10.1088/1674-1056/26/1/014201