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:1812.01356 · Physical Review A

Genuine multipartite indistinguishability and its detection via the generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel effect

Marcin Karczewski, Robert Pisarczyk, Paweł Kurzyński

Published Apr 2, 2019• 8 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The question of whether two indistinguishable particles are bosons or fermions can be answered by observing the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect on a beam splitter. However, already for three particles one can consider symmetries that are neither bosonic nor fermionic. In this work, we propose a notion of a genuine multipartite indistinguishability and describe a simple method of quantifying it experimentally.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.99.042102

Related papers

Hong–Ou–Mandel interference of more than ten indistinguishable atoms

Martin Quensen, Mareike Hetzel, Luis Santos +4 more

When two indistinguishable bosons interfere at a beam splitter, they exit through the same output port. This quantum effect, known as Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, underpins many protocols in quantum information. It also generalizes to larger numbers of identical particles, for which interference produces characteristic many-body patterns. So far, experiments have observed the many-particle regime mainly in photonic platforms with unavoidable loss, and atomic realizations have remained challenging. Here we demonstrate Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with up to 12 indistinguishable neutral atoms in a system with negligible loss. Single-particle counting reveals parity oscillations, a bunching envelope and genuine multipartite entanglement, which are defining features of the multiparticle Hong-Ou-Mandel effect. Using the generated quantum states, we demonstrate metrological sensitivities that scale with the number of particles according to the Heisenberg limit. Our technique can be extended to larger ensembles, with wide-ranging applications from high-precision atom interferometry to multiparticle Bell tests.

arXiv:2504.02691•Nature Physics•Jun 1, 2026•0 citations

Demonstration of Temporal Distinguishability of Three and Four Photons with Asymmetric Beam Splitter

Z. Y. Ou, Bi‐Heng Liu, Fang‐Wen Sun +3 more

By using an asymmetric beam splitter, we observe the generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel effects for three and four photons, respectively. Furthermore, we can use this generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer to characterize temporal distinguishability.

arXiv:0707.3213•The Rochester Conferences on Coherence and Quantum Optics and the Quantum Information and Measurement meeting•Jan 1, 2007•1 citation

Two-boson quantum interference in time

Nicolas J. Cerf, Michael G. Jabbour

The celebrated Hong-Ou-Mandel effect is the paradigm of two-particle quantum interference. It has its roots in the symmetry of identical quantum particles, as dictated by the Pauli principle. Two identical bosons impinging on a beam splitter (of transmittance 1/2) cannot be detected in coincidence at both output ports, as confirmed in numerous experiments with light or even matter. Here, we establish that partial time reversal transforms the beam splitter linear coupling into amplification. We infer from this duality the existence of an unsuspected two-boson interferometric effect in a quantum amplifier (of gain 2) and identify the underlying mechanism as time-like indistinguishability. This fundamental mechanism is generic to any bosonic Bogoliubov transformation, so we anticipate wide implications in quantum physics.

arXiv:2012.15165•Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences•Dec 11, 2020•13 citations

How to distinguish identical particles

Fedor Herbut

Usually fermions and bosons behave very differently. Regarding distinguishability, they behave in one and the same way. Two-identical-particle quantum theory is discussed on the example of the deuteron and that of distant correlations, as well as on the example of the real interference and quantum erasure experiments in the Hong–Ou–Mandel two-photon interferometer (with and without polarizers and analyzers). Distinguishability and indistinguishability of two identical photons in the experiments are illustrated. It is demonstrated, using a simple formalism valid simultaneously for fermions and for bosons, that there exists an isomorphism giving theoretical foundation to distinguishing two identical particles. But the distinguishing has a limited range of exact applicability. In most cases of interest, only the indistinguishability approach has a first-principle (and universal) validity.

American Journal of Physics•Feb 1, 2001•18 citations

Experimental Witness of Genuine Multiphoton Indistinguishability

Daniel J. Brod, Ernesto F. Galvão, Niko Viggianiello +3 more

Multiphoton interference represents one of the key features in photonic platforms for quantum communication, quantum simulation, quantum computing and quantum sensing. Starting from the first two-photon experiment by Hong-Ou-Mandel [1], it has been shown that multiphoton interference lies at the heart of computational complexity in linear optical interferometers, the most notable example being provided by the Boson Sampling model [2]. This model corresponds to sampling from the evolution of n indistinguishable photons in a multimode linear network, and has been shown to be hard to simulate classicaly thus representing a promising route to experimentally reach the quantum advantage regime. It has been shown, however, that genuine multiparticle interference is necessary for high computational complexity. Hence, appropriate methods for detection of such feature should be developed since the complexity of problem prevents the application of trivial methods.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe & European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe-EQEC)•Jun 1, 2019•0 citations

Signatures of many-particle interference

Mattia Walschaers

Abstract Quantum systems with many constituents give rise to a range of conceptual, analytical and computational challenges, hence, the label ‘complex systems’. In the first place, one can think of interactions, described by a many-body Hamiltonian, as the source of such complexity. However, it has gradually become clear that, even in absence of interactions, many-body systems are more than just the sum of their parts. This feature is due to many-body interference. One of the most well-known interference phenomena is the Hong–Ou–Mandel effect, where total destructive interference is observed for a pair of (non-interacting) identical photons. This two-photon interference effect can be generalised to systems of many particles which can be either fermionic or bosonic. The resulting many-particle interference goes beyond quantum statistical effects that are contained in the Bose–Einstein or Fermi–Dirac distributions, and is dynamical in nature. This Tutorial will introduce the mathematical framework for describing systems of identical particles, and explain the notion of indistinguishability. We will then focus our attention on dynamical systems of free particles and formally introduce the concept of many-particle interference. Its impact on many-particle transition probabilities is computationally challenging to evaluate, and it becomes rapidly intractable for systems with large numbers of identical particles. Hence, this Tutorial will build up towards alternative, more efficient methods for observing signatures of many-particle interference. A first type of signatures relies on the detection of a highly sensitive -but also highly fragile- processes of total destructive interference that occurs in interferometers with a high degree of symmetry. A second class of signatures is based on the statistical features that arise when we study the typical behaviour of correlations between a small number of the interferometer’s output ports. We will ultimately show how these statistical signatures of many-particle interference lead us to a statistical version of the Hong–Ou–Mandel effect. The work presented in this Tutorial was one of the four shortlisted finalists of the 2018 DPG SAMOP dissertation prize.

arXiv:1908.08370•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Nov 27, 2019•19 citations
The question of whether two indistinguishable particles are bosons or fermions can be answered by observing the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect on a beam splitter. However, already for three particles one can consider symmetries that are neither bosonic nor fermionic. In this work, we propose a notion of a genuine multipartite indistinguishability and describe a simple method of quantifying it experimentally.
When two indistinguishable bosons interfere at a beam splitter, they exit through the same output port. This quantum effect, known as Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, underpins many protocols in quantum information. It also generalizes to larger numbers of identical particles, for which interference produces characteristic many-body patterns. So far, experiments have observed the many-particle regime mainly in photonic platforms with unavoidable loss, and atomic realizations have remained challenging. Here we demonstrate Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with up to 12 indistinguishable neutral atoms in a system with negligible loss. Single-particle counting reveals parity oscillations, a bunching envelope and genuine multipartite entanglement, which are defining features of the multiparticle Hong-Ou-Mandel effect. Using the generated quantum states, we demonstrate metrological sensitivities that scale with the number of particles according to the Heisenberg limit. Our technique can be extended to larger ensembles, with wide-ranging applications from high-precision atom interferometry to multiparticle Bell tests.
The celebrated Hong-Ou-Mandel effect is the paradigm of two-particle quantum interference. It has its roots in the symmetry of identical quantum particles, as dictated by the Pauli principle. Two identical bosons impinging on a beam splitter (of transmittance 1/2) cannot be detected in coincidence at both output ports, as confirmed in numerous experiments with light or even matter. Here, we establish that partial time reversal transforms the beam splitter linear coupling into amplification. We infer from this duality the existence of an unsuspected two-boson interferometric effect in a quantum amplifier (of gain 2) and identify the underlying mechanism as time-like indistinguishability. This fundamental mechanism is generic to any bosonic Bogoliubov transformation, so we anticipate wide implications in quantum physics.
Usually fermions and bosons behave very differently. Regarding distinguishability, they behave in one and the same way. Two-identical-particle quantum theory is discussed on the example of the deuteron and that of distant correlations, as well as on the example of the real interference and quantum erasure experiments in the Hong–Ou–Mandel two-photon interferometer (with and without polarizers and analyzers). Distinguishability and indistinguishability of two identical photons in the experiments are illustrated. It is demonstrated, using a simple formalism valid simultaneously for fermions and for bosons, that there exists an isomorphism giving theoretical foundation to distinguishing two identical particles. But the distinguishing has a limited range of exact applicability. In most cases of interest, only the indistinguishability approach has a first-principle (and universal) validity.
Multiphoton interference represents one of the key features in photonic platforms for quantum communication, quantum simulation, quantum computing and quantum sensing. Starting from the first two-photon experiment by Hong-Ou-Mandel [1], it has been shown that multiphoton interference lies at the heart of computational complexity in linear optical interferometers, the most notable example being provided by the Boson Sampling model [2]. This model corresponds to sampling from the evolution of n indistinguishable photons in a multimode linear network, and has been shown to be hard to simulate classicaly thus representing a promising route to experimentally reach the quantum advantage regime. It has been shown, however, that genuine multiparticle interference is necessary for high computational complexity. Hence, appropriate methods for detection of such feature should be developed since the complexity of problem prevents the application of trivial methods.
Abstract Quantum systems with many constituents give rise to a range of conceptual, analytical and computational challenges, hence, the label ‘complex systems’. In the first place, one can think of interactions, described by a many-body Hamiltonian, as the source of such complexity. However, it has gradually become clear that, even in absence of interactions, many-body systems are more than just the sum of their parts. This feature is due to many-body interference. One of the most well-known interference phenomena is the Hong–Ou–Mandel effect, where total destructive interference is observed for a pair of (non-interacting) identical photons. This two-photon interference effect can be generalised to systems of many particles which can be either fermionic or bosonic. The resulting many-particle interference goes beyond quantum statistical effects that are contained in the Bose–Einstein or Fermi–Dirac distributions, and is dynamical in nature. This Tutorial will introduce the mathematical framework for describing systems of identical particles, and explain the notion of indistinguishability. We will then focus our attention on dynamical systems of free particles and formally introduce the concept of many-particle interference. Its impact on many-particle transition probabilities is computationally challenging to evaluate, and it becomes rapidly intractable for systems with large numbers of identical particles. Hence, this Tutorial will build up towards alternative, more efficient methods for observing signatures of many-particle interference. A first type of signatures relies on the detection of a highly sensitive -but also highly fragile- processes of total destructive interference that occurs in interferometers with a high degree of symmetry. A second class of signatures is based on the statistical features that arise when we study the typical behaviour of correlations between a small number of the interferometer’s output ports. We will ultimately show how these statistical signatures of many-particle interference lead us to a statistical version of the Hong–Ou–Mandel effect. The work presented in this Tutorial was one of the four shortlisted finalists of the 2018 DPG SAMOP dissertation prize.