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arXiv:1412.8238 · Optics Express

The first- and second-order temporal interference between thermal and laser light

Jianbin Liu, Huaibin Zheng, Hui Chen, Yu Zhou, Fu-li Li, Zhuo Xu

Published Apr 27, 2015• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The first- and second-order temporal interference between two independent thermal and laser light beams is discussed by employing the superposition principle in Feynman's path integral theory. It is concluded that the first-order temporal interference pattern can not be observed by superposing two independent thermal and laser light beams, while the second-order temporal interference pattern can be observed in the same condition. These predictions are experimentally verified by employing pseudothermal light to simulate thermal light. The relationship between the indistinguishability of alternatives and photons is analyzed. The conclusions are helpful to understand the interference of different kinds of light and the difference between the coherence properties of thermal and laser light.

DOI
10.1364/oe.23.011868

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By analyzing the first-order interference of two independent thermal light beams in Feynman's path integral theory, we conclude that it is impossible to observe the transient first-order interference pattern by superposing two independent thermal light beams if the initial phases of the photons in thermal light are random. The result suggests that the classical model of thermal light field within the coherence time may not be the same as the one of laser light field within the coherence time.
By analyzing the transient first-order interference of two independent thermal light beams in both classical and quantum theories, we conclude that for a certain kind of thermal light, it is impossible to observe the transient first-order interference pattern by superposing two independent thermal light beams even if the degeneracy parameter of thermal light is much greater than one. The result suggests that the well-accepted classical model of a thermal light field within the coherence time is not valid for all kinds of thermal light, which is important and helpful to understand the first-order interference of thermal light.
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The formation process of the second-order interference pattern is studied experimentally in the photon counting regime by superposing two independent single-mode continuous-wave lasers. Two-photon interference based on the superposition principle in Feynman's path integral theory is employed to interpret the experimental results. The second-order interference pattern of classical light can be formulated when, with high probability, there are only two photons in the interferometer at one time. The studies are helpful in understanding the second-order interference of classical light in the language of photons. The method and conclusions can be generalized to the third- and higher-order interference of light and interference of massive particles.