Expand this Topic clickable element to expand a topic
Skip to content
Optica Publishing Group

Semiclassical versus quantum behavior in fourth-order interference

Not Accessible

Your library or personal account may give you access

Abstract

A theoretical construct is presented for fourth-order interference between the signal and the idler beams of a parametric downconverter. Previous quantum treatments of fourth-order interference have employed correlated single-photon wave packets. The introduced approach, however, relies on Gaussian-state field correlations, which were previously used to characterize quadrature-noise squeezing produced by an optical parametric amplifier and nonclassical twin-beam generation in an optical parametric oscillator. Three principal benefits accrue from the correlation-function formalism. First, the quantum theory of fourth-order interference is unified with that for the other nonclassical effects of χ(2) interactions, i.e., squeezing and twin-beam production. Second, the semiclassical photodetection limit on Gaussian-state fourth-order interference is established; a purely quantum effect can be claimed at fringe visibilities substantially below the 50% level. Finally, both photon-coincidence counting (within the low-photon-flux regime) and intensity interferometry (in the high-photon-flux limit) are easily analyzed within a common framework.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
More Like This
Fourth-order interference in parametric downconversion

J. G. Rarity and P. R. Tapster
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 6(6) 1221-1226 (1989)

Theory of light detection in the presence of feedback

J. H. Shapiro, G. Saplakoglu, S.-T. Ho, P. Kumar, B. E. A. Saleh, and M. C. Teich
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 4(10) 1604-1620 (1987)

Fourth-order interference technique for determining the coherence time of a light beam

Z. Y. Ou, E. C. Gage, B. E. Magill, and L. Mandel
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 6(1) 100-103 (1989)

Cited By

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Figures (2)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Equations (89)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Select as filters


Select Topics Cancel
© Copyright 2024 | Optica Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved