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Physical Review A

Unified interpretation for second-order subwavelength interference based on Feynman’s path-integral theory

Jianbin Liu, Guoquan Zhang

Published Jul 21, 2010• 30 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The second-order spatial subwavelength interference pattern is observed in a modified Michelson interferometer with single-mode continuous-wave laser beams. By analyzing our subwavelength interference experiment based on Feynman's path integral theory, a unified interpretation for all the second-order subwavelength interference is suggested.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.82.013822

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The second-order spatial subwavelength interference pattern is observed in a modified Michelson interferometer with single-mode continuous-wave laser beams. By analyzing our subwavelength interference experiment based on Feynman's path integral theory, a unified interpretation for all the second-order subwavelength interference is suggested.
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The second-order temporal interference of two independent single-mode continuous-wave lasers is discussed by employing two-photon interference in Feynman's path integral theory. It is concluded that whether the second-order temporal interference pattern can or cannot be retrieved via two-photon coincidence counting rate is dependent on the resolution time of the detection system and the frequency difference between these two lasers. Two identical and tunable single-mode continuous-wave diode lasers are employed to verify the predictions. These studies are helpful to understand the physics of two-photon interference with photons of different spectra.
The second-order interference of two independent photons with different spectra in a Shih–Alley/Hong–Ou–Mandel interferometer is studied in Feynman’s path integral theory. There is a second-order interference pattern for photons with different spectra if the photons are indistinguishable for the employed detection system. The conditions to observe the second-order temporal beating with photons of different spectra are analyzed. The influence of the response time of the detection system on the observed second-order interference pattern is also discussed. It is a direct result of that measurement in quantum mechanics is dependent on the employed measuring apparatus. The results are helpful to understand the physics of two-photon interference in different schemes.
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Two-photon interference of broadband chaotic light in a Michelson interferometer is theoretically and numerically studied with a two-photon-absorption detector when polarizations are taken into account. Under the frame of quantum optics, the theoretical analysis is based on two-photon interference and Feynman path integral theory. A two-photon coherence matrix is introduced to calculate the second-order interference pattern. Our research shows that polarization is another dimension, as well as time and space, to tune the second-order interference pattern in the two-photon interference process. Polarizations can act as switches to manipulate the interference process and may open the door to some new experimental schemes. The quantum optical vector model is also helpful to understand the physics of second-order interference when the light source is quantum.