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arXiv:1605.08555 · Scientific Reports

Nonclassical light from a large number of independent single-photon emitters

Lukáš Lachman, L. Slodička, Radim Filip

Published Jan 27, 2016• 19 citations
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Abstract

Nonclassical quantum effects gradually reach domains of physics of large systems previously considered as purely classical. We derive a hierarchy of operational criteria suitable for a reliable detection of nonclassicality of light from an arbitrarily large ensemble of independent single-photon emitters. We show, that such large ensemble can always emit nonclassical light without any phase reference and under realistic experimental conditions including incoherent background noise. The nonclassical light from the large ensemble of the emitters can be witnessed much better than light coming from a single or a few emitters.

DOI
10.1038/srep19760

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Nonclassical quantum effects gradually reach domains of physics of large systems previously considered as purely classical. We derive a hierarchy of operational criteria suitable for a reliable detection of nonclassicality of light from an arbitrarily large ensemble of independent single-photon emitters. We show, that such large ensemble can always emit nonclassical light without any phase reference and under realistic experimental conditions including incoherent background noise. The nonclassical light from the large ensemble of the emitters can be witnessed much better than light coming from a single or a few emitters.
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Abstract Single photon sources are necessary for optical quantum technology. The nonclassicality of emitted single photons manifests itself in diverse experiments and applications. The applications already require different nonclassical aspects of single photons, however, a suitable hierarchy of criteria is missing. We propose variable experimental tests, based on adjustable linear optical networks and single photon detectors, giving a hierarchy of such nonclassicality criteria. The hierarchy goes beyond Hanbury–Brown–Twiss test of photon antibunching and allows us to compare faithfully quality and performance of single photon sources via their nonclassical properties.
“The word ‘classical’ means only one thing in science: it's wrong!” We have previously emphasized the fact that all states of light are quantum mechanical and are thus nonclassical, deriving some quantum features from the discreteness of the photons. Of course, in practice, the nonclassical features of light are difficult to observe. (We shall use “quantum mechanical” and “nonclassical” more or less interchangeably here.) Already we have discussed what must certainly be the most nonclassical of all nonclassical states of light – the single-photon state. Yet, as we shall see, it is possible to have nonclassical states involving a very large number of photons. But we need a criterion for nonclassicality. Recall that in Chapter 5 we discussed such a criterion in terms of the quasi-probability distribution known as the P function, P (α). States for which P (α) is positive everywhere or no more singular than a delta function, are classical whereas those for which P (α) is negative or more singular than a delta function are nonclassical. We have shown, in fact, that P (α) for a coherent state is a delta function, and Hillery has shown that all other pure states of the field will have functions P (α) that are negative in some regions of phase space and are more singular than a delta. It is evident that the variety of possible nonclassical states of the field is quite large.