Physical Review A
Comparison of Vogel-Schleich phase theory with quantum phase measurements
Robert Lynch
Abstract
The predictions of the Vogel-Schleich (VS) phase theory are compared to the recent experimental quantum phase measurements of Noh, Foug\`eres, and Mandel (NFM) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 1426 (1991)]. Agreement is found to be excellent over the expected range of validity of the VS theory. Hence it appears that, contrary to the view of NFM, an abstract phase theory can predict their results independently of the detailed experimental configuration.