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

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Demonstration of non-monotonic quantum to classical transition in multiparticle interference

Young-Sik Ra, Malte C. Tichy, Hyang‐Tag Lim, Osung Kwon, Florian Mintert, Andreas Buchleitner, Yoon-Ho Kim

Published Jan 1, 2012• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate the non-monotonic dependence of many-particle interference signals on the particles mutual distinguishability. Such non-monotonicity is a generic feature of the quantum to classical transition in multiparticle systems.
DOI
10.1364/qels.2012.qf3f.7

Related papers

Nonmonotonic quantum-to-classical transition in multiparticle interference

Young-Sik Ra, Malte C. Tichy, Hyang‐Tag Lim +4 more

We experimentally demonstrate the non-monotonic dependence of genuine many-particle interference signals on the particles' mutual distinguishability. Our theoretical analysis shows that such non-monotonicity is a generic feature of the quantum to classical transition in multiparticle correlation functions of more than two particles.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Feb 19, 2014•5 citations

Nonmonotonicity in quantum-to-classical transition in multiparticle interference

Young-Sik Ra, Malte C. Tichy, Hyang‐Tag Lim +4 more

We observed nonmonotonic dependence of a many-particle detection probability on the particles' mutual distinguishability. Such nonmonotonicity is a generic feature of the quantum-to-classical transition in multiparticle systems.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Pacific Rim (CLEO-PR)•Jun 1, 2013•0 citations

Nonmonotonic quantum-to-classical transition in multiparticle interference

Young-Sik Ra, Malte C. Tichy, Hyang‐Tag Lim +4 more

Quantum-mechanical wave-particle duality implies that probability distributions for granular detection events exhibit wave-like interference. On the single-particle level, this leads to self-interference--e.g., on transit across a double slit--for photons as well as for large, massive particles, provided that no which-way information is available to any observer, even in principle. When more than one particle enters the game, their specific many-particle quantum features are manifested in correlation functions, provided the particles cannot be distinguished. We are used to believe that interference fades away monotonically with increasing distinguishability--in accord with available experimental evidence on the single- and on the many-particle level. Here, we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that such monotonicity of the quantum-to-classical transition is the exception rather than the rule whenever more than two particles interfere. As the distinguishability of the particles is continuously increased, different numbers of particles effectively interfere, which leads to interference signals that are, in general, nonmonotonic functions of the distinguishability of the particles. This observation opens perspectives for the experimental characterization of many-particle coherence and sheds light on decoherence processes in many-particle systems.

arXiv:1109.1636•Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences•Jan 7, 2013•77 citations

Demonstration of non-monotonic quantum to classical transition in multiparticle interference

Ra ', Tichý, Lim +4 more

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2012•0 citations

Multiparticle Interference of Pairwise Distinguishable Photons

Alex E. Jones, Adrian J. Menssen, Helen M. Chrzanowski +3 more

One of the central principles of quantum mechanics is that if there are multiple paths that lead to the same event and there is no way to distinguish between them, interference occurs. It is often assumed that distinguishing information in the preparation, evolution, or measurement of a system is sufficient to destroy interference. However, it is still possible for photons in distinguishable, separable states to interfere due to the indistinguishability of paths corresponding to possible exchange processes. Here we experimentally measure an interference signal that depends only on the multiparticle interference of four photons in a four-port interferometer despite pairs of them occupying distinguishable states.

arXiv:2001.08125•Physical Review Letters•Sep 18, 2020•43 citations

Monotonic quantum-to-classical transition enabled by positively correlated biphotons

Rui‐Bo Jin, Guo-Qun Chen, Hui Jing +4 more

Multiparticle interference is a fundamental phenomenon in the study of quantum mechanics. It was discovered in a recent experiment [Y.-S. Ra et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 110, 1227 (2013)] that spectrally uncorrelated biphotons exhibited a nonmonotonic quantum-to-classical transition in a four-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference. In this work, we consider the same scheme with spectrally correlated photons. By theoretical calculation and numerical simulation, we found the transition not only can be nonmonotonic with negatively correlated or uncorrelated biphotons, but also can be monotonic with positively correlated biphotons. The fundamental reason for this difference is that the HOM-type multiphoton interference is a differential-frequency interference. Our study may shed new light on understanding the role of frequency entanglement in multiphoton behavior.

arXiv:1706.09994•Physical Review A•Jun 29, 2017•8 citations
Quantum-mechanical wave-particle duality implies that probability distributions for granular detection events exhibit wave-like interference. On the single-particle level, this leads to self-interference--e.g., on transit across a double slit--for photons as well as for large, massive particles, provided that no which-way information is available to any observer, even in principle. When more than one particle enters the game, their specific many-particle quantum features are manifested in correlation functions, provided the particles cannot be distinguished. We are used to believe that interference fades away monotonically with increasing distinguishability--in accord with available experimental evidence on the single- and on the many-particle level. Here, we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that such monotonicity of the quantum-to-classical transition is the exception rather than the rule whenever more than two particles interfere. As the distinguishability of the particles is continuously increased, different numbers of particles effectively interfere, which leads to interference signals that are, in general, nonmonotonic functions of the distinguishability of the particles. This observation opens perspectives for the experimental characterization of many-particle coherence and sheds light on decoherence processes in many-particle systems.
One of the central principles of quantum mechanics is that if there are multiple paths that lead to the same event and there is no way to distinguish between them, interference occurs. It is often assumed that distinguishing information in the preparation, evolution, or measurement of a system is sufficient to destroy interference. However, it is still possible for photons in distinguishable, separable states to interfere due to the indistinguishability of paths corresponding to possible exchange processes. Here we experimentally measure an interference signal that depends only on the multiparticle interference of four photons in a four-port interferometer despite pairs of them occupying distinguishable states.
Multiparticle interference is a fundamental phenomenon in the study of quantum mechanics. It was discovered in a recent experiment [Y.-S. Ra et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 110, 1227 (2013)] that spectrally uncorrelated biphotons exhibited a nonmonotonic quantum-to-classical transition in a four-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference. In this work, we consider the same scheme with spectrally correlated photons. By theoretical calculation and numerical simulation, we found the transition not only can be nonmonotonic with negatively correlated or uncorrelated biphotons, but also can be monotonic with positively correlated biphotons. The fundamental reason for this difference is that the HOM-type multiphoton interference is a differential-frequency interference. Our study may shed new light on understanding the role of frequency entanglement in multiphoton behavior.