arXiv:1707.09137 · Physical Review A

Bunching effect and quantum statistics of partially indistinguishable photons

Fang‐Wen Sun, Ao Shen, Yang Dong, Xiang-Dong Chen, Guang‐Can Guo

Published Aug 9, 2017• 4 citations

Abstract

The quantum statistics of particles is determined by both the spins and the indistinguishability of quantum states. Here we study the quantum statistics of partially distinguishable photons by defining the multiphoton indistinguishability. The photon-bunching coefficient is formulated based on the properties of permutation symmetry and a modified Bose-Einstein statistics is presented with an indistinguishability-induced photon-bunching effect. Moreover, the statistical transition of the photon state is studied for partially distinguishable photons and the results show that the indistinguishability exhibits the same role as that observed in the generation of laser. The results will fill the gap between Bose-Einstein and Poisson statistics for photons and a formula is presented for the study of multiphoton quantum information processes.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.96.023823

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