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

Le Journal de Physique Colloques

THE ACCURACY OF DIFFUSION-CONSTANT MEASUREMENTS BY DIGITAL AUTOCORRELATION OF PHOTON-COUNTING FLUCTUATIONS

Edward R. Pike

Published Feb 1, 1972• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We discuss the accuracy of a measurement of a spectral linewidth using the method of digital correlation of single-clipped photon counting fluctuations with a given light flux and a given duration of experiment. Statistical effects due to the random nature of the light field and the photoelectric process limit this accuracy, so that the longer the duration of the experiment the more accurate the result, if all other factors are equal. Theoretical and experimental results are presented which show the accuracies obtainable as functions of the sample time, detector area and clipping level.

DOI
10.1051/jphyscol:1972132

Related papers

Statistical accuracy in the digital autocorrelation of photon counting fluctuations

Eric Jakeman, Edward R. Pike, S. Swain

The authors investigate the statistical errors which arise in digital autocorrelation of photon counting fluctuations due to the finite duration of experiments. An expression for the accuracy with which individual points of the autocorrelation function of intensities can be measured is derived analytically and evaluated for Gaussian- Lorentzian light. The appropriate weighting for a 'least-squares' fitting procedure is determined and the error in spectral linewidth, obtained by this procedure from experiment, is calculated.

Journal of physics. A, Proceedings of the Physical Society. General•Jul 1, 1971•108 citations

Theory of optical spectroscopy by digital autocorrelation of photon-counting fluctuations

Eric Jakeman

Digital autocorrelation of optical signals is discussed with particular reference to the technique of clipping, reported briefly in an earlier publication. A detailed analysis of the relationship between the autocorrelation functions of clipped and unclipped photon-counting fluctuations is given. By evaluating the generating function for the joint distribution of intensity fluctuations, corrections to the earlier results are calculated which arise if the time over which the signal is sampled is not negligible compared with any coherence time of the light. The effect of clipping in heterodyne experiments is also analysed.

Journal of physics. A, Proceedings of the Physical Society. General•Mar 1, 1970•99 citations

Statistical accuracy in the digital autocorrelation of photon counting fluctuations

Eric Jakeman, Edward R. Pike, S. Swain

Optical measurements by intensity fluctuation spectroscopy are subject to errors arising from the statistical nature of light and of the photo-detection process. The authors report the results of a calculation of the expected errors, due to these causes, in linewidth measurements by digital autocorrelation of photon counting fluctuations.

Journal of physics. A, Proceedings of the Physical Society. General•Nov 1, 1970•40 citations

A method for the clipped intensity correlation measurement

S. H. Chen, P. Tartaglia, Nicole Ostrowsky

The authors propose an alternative scheme for the clipped light intensity correlation measurement which is complementary to the usual scheme as proposed by Jakeman and Pike (1969). The new scheme gives essentially the same statistical accuracy for the linewidth measurement and furthermore, it has some practical advantages when the mean number of counts per sampling time is sufficiently large.

Journal of physics. A, Proceedings of the Physical Society. General•Nov 1, 1972•6 citations

Statistical Accuracy in the Photon Counting Structure Function of Fluctuating Light Fields

Christopher J. Oliver, Edward R. Pike

An analysis of the variance of the structure function coefficients of a train of digital photodetections, both unnormalized and with various normalizations, is made and compared with known corresponding results for the photon correlation function. A gaussian-lorentzian model light field is used in both direct and homodyne detection. Numerical simulations confirm and extend the analytical results, which show certain circumstances when the structure function may be a useful alternative measure of spectral content.

Optica Acta International Journal of Optics•Oct 1, 1981•14 citations

Clipped correlation of integrated intensity fluctuations of gaussian light

Eric Jakeman, Christopher J. Oliver, Edward R. Pike

Experimental confirmation is presented of recent theoretical results of Jakeman on the time ever aging of photon-counting fluctuations when utilizing clipping techniques for autocorrelation. The effects of finite electronic resolving time (dead-time correction) and finite receiving apertures (spatial-coherence correction) are included.

Journal of physics. A, Proceedings of the Physical Society. General•Nov 1, 1971•33 citations
We discuss the accuracy of a measurement of a spectral linewidth using the method of digital correlation of single-clipped photon counting fluctuations with a given light flux and a given duration of experiment. Statistical effects due to the random nature of the light field and the photoelectric process limit this accuracy, so that the longer the duration of the experiment the more accurate the result, if all other factors are equal. Theoretical and experimental results are presented which show the accuracies obtainable as functions of the sample time, detector area and clipping level.
The authors investigate the statistical errors which arise in digital autocorrelation of photon counting fluctuations due to the finite duration of experiments. An expression for the accuracy with which individual points of the autocorrelation function of intensities can be measured is derived analytically and evaluated for Gaussian- Lorentzian light. The appropriate weighting for a 'least-squares' fitting procedure is determined and the error in spectral linewidth, obtained by this procedure from experiment, is calculated.
Digital autocorrelation of optical signals is discussed with particular reference to the technique of clipping, reported briefly in an earlier publication. A detailed analysis of the relationship between the autocorrelation functions of clipped and unclipped photon-counting fluctuations is given. By evaluating the generating function for the joint distribution of intensity fluctuations, corrections to the earlier results are calculated which arise if the time over which the signal is sampled is not negligible compared with any coherence time of the light. The effect of clipping in heterodyne experiments is also analysed.
An analysis of the variance of the structure function coefficients of a train of digital photodetections, both unnormalized and with various normalizations, is made and compared with known corresponding results for the photon correlation function. A gaussian-lorentzian model light field is used in both direct and homodyne detection. Numerical simulations confirm and extend the analytical results, which show certain circumstances when the structure function may be a useful alternative measure of spectral content.