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

Frontiers in Optics

Light Interference in Position and Momentum variables: the Spatial Alford and Gold Effect

Jefferson Flórez, Omar Calderón-Losada, Luis José Salazar-Serrano, Juan-Rafael Álvarez, Alejandra Valencia

Published Jan 1, 2015• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Intensity modulation of two parallel-propagating beams is observed in the Fourier plane when the beams’ separation is such that they do not interfere in position. This is analogous to the temporal Alford and Gold effect.
DOI
10.1364/fio.2015.fth1c.5

Related papers

Interference and the Alford and Gold Effect

L. Mandeļ

A simple optical superposition experiment is analyzed in detail and a comparison is made between the photoelectric signal modulation which is characteristic of interference and the Alford and Gold effect. Some significant differences are pointed out. It is shown that the Alford and Gold effect is of the first order in the degeneracy parameter and of the second order in the degree of coherence, so that it resembles the intensity correlation effect discovered by Hanbury Brown and Twiss.

Journal of the Optical Society of America•Dec 1, 1962•60 citations

Spatial Interference of light: a method to generate structured environments to study quantum dynamics

Juan-Rafael Álvarez, Jefferson Flórez, Omar Calderón-Losada +2 more

We observe spatial interference between two parallel-propagating Gaussian beams separated by an arbitrary distance. This constitutes a method for spatial intensity shaping of light beams, which permit to structure environments to study different quantum dynamics.

Quantum Information and Measurement (QIM)•Jan 1, 2017•0 citations

Quantum Theory of Interference Effects Produced by Independent Light Beams

L. Mandeļ

The conditions are examined under which interference effects should be observable in the superposition of two light beams derived from independent sources. The quantum-mechanical description of these effects differs from the classical description principally in that it is necessarily based on expectation values of the light intensity at one or more space-time points. It is shown that pure states of the radiation field which are not energy states give rise to interference effects, but in that case the two beams cannot meaningfully be described as statistically independent. For a realistic description mixed states have to be introduced, when the expectation value of the intensity gives no indication of interference effects. On the other hand, the intensity correlation at two space-time points is a periodic function of the separation of the points and indicates the presence of transient interference effects. The effects become readily observable only when the average photon occupation number of each cell of phase space is appreciably greater than 1, and this explains why laser beams were needed for the experimental observations. It is pointed out that, even in these experiments, each photon may be regarded as interfering only with itself.

Physical Review•Apr 6, 1964•54 citations

The second-order interference between laser and thermal light

Jianbin Liu, Yu Zhou, Fuli Li +1 more

Two-photon anticorrelation is observed when laser and pseudothermal light beams are incident to the two input ports of a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer, respectively. The spatial second-order interference pattern of laser and pseudothermal light beams is reported. Temporal Hong-Ou-Mandel dip is also observed when these two detectors are at the symmetrical positions. These results are helpful to understand the physics behind the second-order interference of light.

arXiv:1312.5068•Europhysics Letters (EPL)•Mar 1, 2014•23 citations

Temporal and spatial modulation in laser propagation

Michael E. Crenshaw, Cyrus D. Cantrell

Observations of a frequency-shifted coherent conical emission from systems pumped by an intense optical field that is nearly resonant with a one-photon transition1 have made it clear that propagation effects can play a major role in determining the spectrum as well as the spatial characteristics of the transmitted pulse. Proposed theories of conical emission stress the importance of transverse effects leading to four-wave mixing1 or spatial self-phase modulation.2 We report computer results on laser propagation in a two-level system and demonstrate that spatial structure, including conical emission, can result from temporal propagation effects.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Apr 25, 1988•0 citations

How does energy separate in the fringes produced by intersecting beams?

Chandrasekhar Roychoudhuri, Kenneth Bernier

Spatial energy re-distribution as interference fringes are recorded when two spatially and temporally coherent beams intersect. We show simple experiments with different recording materials to explain this energy re-distribution process. Interference effects are manifest in materials as dictated by their quantum properties because optical fields do not interfere with (or operate on) each other.

Education and Training in Optics and Photonics•Jan 1, 2003•0 citations
The conditions are examined under which interference effects should be observable in the superposition of two light beams derived from independent sources. The quantum-mechanical description of these effects differs from the classical description principally in that it is necessarily based on expectation values of the light intensity at one or more space-time points. It is shown that pure states of the radiation field which are not energy states give rise to interference effects, but in that case the two beams cannot meaningfully be described as statistically independent. For a realistic description mixed states have to be introduced, when the expectation value of the intensity gives no indication of interference effects. On the other hand, the intensity correlation at two space-time points is a periodic function of the separation of the points and indicates the presence of transient interference effects. The effects become readily observable only when the average photon occupation number of each cell of phase space is appreciably greater than 1, and this explains why laser beams were needed for the experimental observations. It is pointed out that, even in these experiments, each photon may be regarded as interfering only with itself.
Observations of a frequency-shifted coherent conical emission from systems pumped by an intense optical field that is nearly resonant with a one-photon transition1 have made it clear that propagation effects can play a major role in determining the spectrum as well as the spatial characteristics of the transmitted pulse. Proposed theories of conical emission stress the importance of transverse effects leading to four-wave mixing1 or spatial self-phase modulation.2 We report computer results on laser propagation in a two-level system and demonstrate that spatial structure, including conical emission, can result from temporal propagation effects.