Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:0708.0077 · International Journal of Modern Physics B

MULTI-PHOTON INTERFERENCE AND TEMPORAL DISTINGUISHABILITY OF PHOTONS

Z. Y. Ou

Published Dec 10, 2007• 32 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A number of recent interference experiments involving multiple photons are reviewed. These experiments include generalized photon bunching effects, generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel interference effects and multi-photon interferometry for demonstrations of multi-photon de Broglie wavelength. The multi-photon states used in these experiments are from two pairs of photons in parametric down-conversion. We find that the size of the interference effect in these experiments, characterized by the visibility of the interference pattern, is governed by the degree of distinguishability among different pairs of photons. Based on this discovery, we generalize the concept of multi-photon temporal distinguishability and relate it to a number of multi-photon interference effects. Finally, we make an attempt to interpret the coherence theory by multi-photon interference via the concept of temporal distinguishability of photons.

DOI
10.1142/s0217979207038186

Related papers

Temporal Distinguishability of an N-Photon State and Its Characterization by Quantum Interference

Z. Y. Ou

We present a multi-mode model to describe an arbitrary N-photon state with a wide spectral range and some arbitrary temporal distribution. In general, some of the $N$ photons are spread out in time while other may overlap and become indistinguishable. From this model, we find that the temporal (in)distinguishability of photons is related to the exchange symmetry of the multi-photon wave function. We find that simple multi-photon detection scheme gives rise to a more general photon bunching effect with the famous two-photon effect as a special case. We then send this N-photon state into a recently discovered multi-photon interference scheme. We calculate the visibility of the multi-photon interference scheme and find that it is related to the temporal distinguishability of the $N$ photons. Maximum visibility of one is achieved for the indistinguishable N-photon state whereas the visibility degrades when some of the photons are separated and become distinguishable. Thus we can identify an experimentally measurable quantity that may quantitatively define the degree of indistinguishability of an N-photon state. This presents a quantitative demonstration of the complementary principle of quantum interference.

arXiv:quant-ph/0601118•Jan 18, 2006•3 citations

Demonstration of controllable temporal distinguishability in a three-photon state

Bi‐Heng Liu, Fang‐Wen Sun, Yan-Xiao Gong +3 more

By using two processes of parametric down-conversion, we are able to generate three photons with controllable degree of temporal distinguishability. This is confirmed by the visibility in a three-photon interference experiment, which can be generalized to provide a practical technique for characterizing the temporal distinguishability of a multi-photon state. This method of quantitative description of multi-photon indistinguishability will have practical implications in the implementation of quantum information protocols.

arXiv:quant-ph/0606118•Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Jan 1, 2007•18 citations

Temporal coherence and indistinguishability in two-photon interference effects

Anand K. Jha, Malcolm N. O’Sullivan, Kam Wai Clifford Chan +1 more

We show that temporal two-photon interference effects involving the signal and idler photons created by parametric down-conversion can be fully characterized in terms of the variations of two length parameters---called the biphoton path-length difference and the biphoton path-asymmetry-length difference---which we construct using the six different length parameters that a general two-photon interference experiment involves. We perform an experiment in which the effects of the variations of these two parameters can be independently controlled and studied. In our experimental setup, which does not involve mixing of signal and idler photons at a beam splitter, we further report observations of Hong-Ou-Mandel- (HOM-)like effects both in coincidence and in one-photon count rates. As an important consequence, we argue that the HOM and the HOM-like effects are best described as observations of how two-photon coherence changes as a function of the biphoton path-asymmetry-length difference.

arXiv:0712.2735•Physical Review A•Feb 4, 2008•39 citations

Demonstration of Temporal Distinguishability in a Four-Photon State and a Six-Photon State

Guo‐Yong Xiang, Yun‐Feng Huang, Fang‐Wen Sun +3 more

An experiment is performed to demonstrate the temporal distinguishability of a four-photon state and a six-photon state, both from parametric down-conversion. The experiment is based on a multiphoton interference scheme in a recently discovered projection measurement of a maximally entangled N-photon state. By measuring the visibility of the interference dip, we can distinguish the various scenarios in the temporal distribution of the pairs and, thus, quantitatively determine the degree of temporal distinguishability of a multiphoton state.

arXiv:quant-ph/0602015•Physical Review Letters•Jul 14, 2006•39 citations

Temporal distinguishability of an N -photon state and its characterization by quantum interference

Z. Y. Ou

We present a multimode model to describe an arbitrary $N$-photon state with a wide spectral range and some arbitrary temporal distribution. In general, some of the $N$ photons are spread out in time while others may overlap and become indistinguishable. From this model, we find that the temporal (in)distinguishability of photons is related to the exchange symmetry of the multiphoton wave function. We find that simple multiphoton detection scheme gives rise to a more general photon bunching effect with the famous two-photon effect as a special case. We then send this $N$-photon state into a recently discovered multiphoton interference scheme. We calculate the visibility of the multiphoton interference scheme and find that it is related to the temporal distinguishability of the $N$ photons. Maximum visibility of one is achieved for the indistinguishable $N$-photon state whereas the visibility degrades when some of the photons are separated and become distinguishable. Thus we can identify an experimentally measurable quantity that may quantitatively define the degree of indistinguishability of an $N$-photon state. This presents a quantitative demonstration of the complementary principle of quantum interference.

Physical Review A•Dec 11, 2006•49 citations

Four-photon interference with asymmetric beam splitters

Bi‐Heng Liu, Fang‐Wen Sun, Yan-Xiao Gong +3 more

Two experiments of four-photon interference are performed with two pairs of photons from parametric downconversion with the help of asymmetric beam splitters. The first experiment is a generalization of the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference effect to two pairs of photons while the second one utilizes this effect to demonstrate a four-photon de Broglie wavelength of lambda/4 by projection measurement.

arXiv:quant-ph/0612006•Optics Letters•Apr 17, 2007•30 citations
A number of recent interference experiments involving multiple photons are reviewed. These experiments include generalized photon bunching effects, generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel interference effects and multi-photon interferometry for demonstrations of multi-photon de Broglie wavelength. The multi-photon states used in these experiments are from two pairs of photons in parametric down-conversion. We find that the size of the interference effect in these experiments, characterized by the visibility of the interference pattern, is governed by the degree of distinguishability among different pairs of photons. Based on this discovery, we generalize the concept of multi-photon temporal distinguishability and relate it to a number of multi-photon interference effects. Finally, we make an attempt to interpret the coherence theory by multi-photon interference via the concept of temporal distinguishability of photons.
We present a multi-mode model to describe an arbitrary N-photon state with a wide spectral range and some arbitrary temporal distribution. In general, some of the NNN photons are spread out in time while other may overlap and become indistinguishable. From this model, we find that the temporal (in)distinguishability of photons is related to the exchange symmetry of the multi-photon wave function. We find that simple multi-photon detection scheme gives rise to a more general photon bunching effect with the famous two-photon effect as a special case. We then send this N-photon state into a recently discovered multi-photon interference scheme. We calculate the visibility of the multi-photon interference scheme and find that it is related to the temporal distinguishability of the NNN photons. Maximum visibility of one is achieved for the indistinguishable N-photon state whereas the visibility degrades when some of the photons are separated and become distinguishable. Thus we can identify an experimentally measurable quantity that may quantitatively define the degree of indistinguishability of an N-photon state. This presents a quantitative demonstration of the complementary principle of quantum interference.
By using two processes of parametric down-conversion, we are able to generate three photons with controllable degree of temporal distinguishability. This is confirmed by the visibility in a three-photon interference experiment, which can be generalized to provide a practical technique for characterizing the temporal distinguishability of a multi-photon state. This method of quantitative description of multi-photon indistinguishability will have practical implications in the implementation of quantum information protocols.
We show that temporal two-photon interference effects involving the signal and idler photons created by parametric down-conversion can be fully characterized in terms of the variations of two length parameters---called the biphoton path-length difference and the biphoton path-asymmetry-length difference---which we construct using the six different length parameters that a general two-photon interference experiment involves. We perform an experiment in which the effects of the variations of these two parameters can be independently controlled and studied. In our experimental setup, which does not involve mixing of signal and idler photons at a beam splitter, we further report observations of Hong-Ou-Mandel- (HOM-)like effects both in coincidence and in one-photon count rates. As an important consequence, we argue that the HOM and the HOM-like effects are best described as observations of how two-photon coherence changes as a function of the biphoton path-asymmetry-length difference.
An experiment is performed to demonstrate the temporal distinguishability of a four-photon state and a six-photon state, both from parametric down-conversion. The experiment is based on a multiphoton interference scheme in a recently discovered projection measurement of a maximally entangled N-photon state. By measuring the visibility of the interference dip, we can distinguish the various scenarios in the temporal distribution of the pairs and, thus, quantitatively determine the degree of temporal distinguishability of a multiphoton state.
We present a multimode model to describe an arbitrary NNN-photon state with a wide spectral range and some arbitrary temporal distribution. In general, some of the NNN photons are spread out in time while others may overlap and become indistinguishable. From this model, we find that the temporal (in)distinguishability of photons is related to the exchange symmetry of the multiphoton wave function. We find that simple multiphoton detection scheme gives rise to a more general photon bunching effect with the famous two-photon effect as a special case. We then send this NNN-photon state into a recently discovered multiphoton interference scheme. We calculate the visibility of the multiphoton interference scheme and find that it is related to the temporal distinguishability of the NNN photons. Maximum visibility of one is achieved for the indistinguishable NNN-photon state whereas the visibility degrades when some of the photons are separated and become distinguishable. Thus we can identify an experimentally measurable quantity that may quantitatively define the degree of indistinguishability of an NNN-photon state. This presents a quantitative demonstration of the complementary principle of quantum interference.