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

Physical Review Letters

Measurement of Photon Bunching in a Thermal Light Beam

B. L. Morgan, L. Mandeļ

Published May 30, 1966• 139 citations
Publisher

Abstract

An experiment is described in which the interval distribution of photoelectric counts is examined, under conditions where light from a low pressure Hg198 gas discharge falls on a photomultiplier. The rate of two-photon counting is measured when the interval lies within the range tau-1 and tau-1 + 7.5 nsec, and it is shown that the two-photon counting rate exceeds the corresponding rate for random pulses when tau-1 approx. < 3 nsec. The measurements yield information on the spectral profile of the light, which is shown to be non-Lorentzian and to have a width somewhat greater than 200 Mc/sec. (Author)

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.16.1012

Related papers

Photon Counting Statistics of Gaussian Light

Gabriel Bédard

It is well known that the photocount distribution associated with the photoelectric detection of fluctuating light beams carries information about the probability density of the light intensity. In this paper, we present an exact solution to a problem of particular interest which arises in connection with the photoelectric detection of narrow-band Gaussian (thermal or pseudothermal) light, namely, the problem of determining the photocount distribution when the counting-time interval is not necessarily short compared to the coherence time of the light. The method developed in this paper is applied to the case where the spectral profile of the light is Lorentzian; it leads to an exact expression for the photocount generating function and it provides simple recurrence relations for the photocount distribution and for its factorial moments.

Physical Review•Nov 25, 1966•97 citations

Statistics of photoelectric pulses for Gaussian-Lorentzian light

Hideyuki Sonoda, Atsushi Kikkawa, Norihito Suzuki

The practical treatment of statistics for Gaussian-Lorentzian light is studied theoretically and experimentally by using the time interval distribution of photoelectric pulses, which is derived in two approaches that are based on Markovian processes and the generating function of photon counting statistics, taking the experimental conditions into account. The limits of the validity of the Markovian assumption are made clear. In arbitrary light intensity it is valid experimentally to employ the practical generating function of photon counting distribution expressed as the product of an ideal generating function and a Poissonian one.

Applied Optics•Apr 1, 1978•8 citations

Photon counting statistics with thermal light having a multiple-peak spectrum

C. L. Mehta, Sushma Gupta

We consider the photon-counting statistics with polarized thermal light having arbitrary rational spectral profile. The method is illustrated for a light beam having a two-peak symmetric Lorentzian spectrum. The associated integral equation is converted into a differential equation and the eigenvalues are determined. Using the standard techniques of contour integration, an explicit expression is obtained for the generating function valid for an arbitrary value of the counting interval.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1975•4 citations

Photon Counting Statistics of Thermal Light Consisting of Two Spectral Lines

N. Tornau, B. Echtermeyer

The generating function for the photon counting distribution is calculated for polarized thermal light in the case that the spectral profile of the light is a superposition of two LORENTZian lines with the same central frequency but different halfwidth at half height. Further we present results for the moments of the counting distribution in this case and also for a frequency separation of both line-centers.

Annalen der Physik•Jan 1, 1973•5 citations

Photoelectric counting measurements as a test for the existence of photons*

L. Mandeļ

It is pointed out that it is impossible to distinguish between photons and classical wave packets by measurement of photoelectric counting statistics for any state of a light beam for which a classical description exists. Therefore, an experiment with a thermal light source recently proposed by Karp as a test for the existence of photons can yield no information on this question, even if it should be able to distinguish between two different statistical models of a light beam. The quantum nature of the optical field can, however, be inferred from other photoelectric measurements, some of which are briefly discussed.

Journal of the Optical Society of America•Aug 1, 1977•10 citations

Photon Counting Statistics of Thermal Light Consisting of Two Spectral Lines

N. Tornau, B. Echtermeyer

Abstract The generating function for the photon counting distribution is calculated for polarized thermal light in the case that the spectral profile of the light is a superposition of two LORENTZian lines with the same central frequency but different halfwidth at half height. Further we present results for the moments of the counting distribution in this case and also for a frequency separation of both line‐centers.

Annalen der Physik•Jan 1, 1973•1 citation
An experiment is described in which the interval distribution of photoelectric counts is examined, under conditions where light from a low pressure Hg198 gas discharge falls on a photomultiplier. The rate of two-photon counting is measured when the interval lies within the range tau-1 and tau-1 + 7.5 nsec, and it is shown that the two-photon counting rate exceeds the corresponding rate for random pulses when tau-1 approx. < 3 nsec. The measurements yield information on the spectral profile of the light, which is shown to be non-Lorentzian and to have a width somewhat greater than 200 Mc/sec. (Author)
It is well known that the photocount distribution associated with the photoelectric detection of fluctuating light beams carries information about the probability density of the light intensity. In this paper, we present an exact solution to a problem of particular interest which arises in connection with the photoelectric detection of narrow-band Gaussian (thermal or pseudothermal) light, namely, the problem of determining the photocount distribution when the counting-time interval is not necessarily short compared to the coherence time of the light. The method developed in this paper is applied to the case where the spectral profile of the light is Lorentzian; it leads to an exact expression for the photocount generating function and it provides simple recurrence relations for the photocount distribution and for its factorial moments.
The practical treatment of statistics for Gaussian-Lorentzian light is studied theoretically and experimentally by using the time interval distribution of photoelectric pulses, which is derived in two approaches that are based on Markovian processes and the generating function of photon counting statistics, taking the experimental conditions into account. The limits of the validity of the Markovian assumption are made clear. In arbitrary light intensity it is valid experimentally to employ the practical generating function of photon counting distribution expressed as the product of an ideal generating function and a Poissonian one.
It is pointed out that it is impossible to distinguish between photons and classical wave packets by measurement of photoelectric counting statistics for any state of a light beam for which a classical description exists. Therefore, an experiment with a thermal light source recently proposed by Karp as a test for the existence of photons can yield no information on this question, even if it should be able to distinguish between two different statistical models of a light beam. The quantum nature of the optical field can, however, be inferred from other photoelectric measurements, some of which are briefly discussed.