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

The Role of Pump Coherence in a Two-photon Interference Experiment

Junlin Liang, S. M. Hendrickson, T. B. Pittman

Published Jan 1, 2010• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We perform a parametric down-conversion two-photon interference experiment using two unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometers and a short-coherence-length continuous-wave pump. The experiment explores the role of the pump coherence in two-photon interferometry.
DOI
10.1364/fio.2010.fmf3

Related papers

Role of pump coherence in two-photon interferometry

Junlin Liang, S. M. Hendrickson, T. B. Pittman

We use a parametric down-conversion source pumped by a short-coherence-length continuous-wave (CW) diode laser to perform two-photon interferometry in an intermediate regime between the more familiar Franson-type experiments with a long-coherence-length pump laser, and the short pulsed pump ``time-bin'' experiments pioneered by Gisin's group. The use of a time-bin-like Mach-Zehnder interferometer in the CW pumping beam induces coherence between certain two-photon amplitudes, while the CW nature of the experiment prevents the elimination of remaining incoherent ones. The experimental results highlight the role of pump coherence in two-photon interferometry.

arXiv:1012.4434•Physical Review A•Mar 10, 2011•6 citations

Two-Photon Interference Experiment in a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

Taesoo Kim, Heonoh Kim, Jeong-Hoon Ko +1 more

A two-photon interference experiment is presented in which an entangled pair of photons generated from a parametric down-conversion was incident on two input ports of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The experiment was carried out using two photon coincidence detection with two detectors at the two output ports of the interferometer. The measured coincidence counts exhibit an interference effect with visibility of 0.75 at simultaneous inputs and 0.38 at inputs with different arrival times according to the degree of photon number entanglement.

Journal of the Optical Society of Korea•Jun 1, 2003•11 citations

Two-photon interference in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer

John Rarity, P. R. Tapster, Eric Jakeman +4 more

Pairs of 826.8-nm correlated photons, generated by parametrically down-converting 413.4-nm krypton-ion laser light, are directed into a single Mach-Zehnder interferometer such that each photon of the pair enters a different input port. The rate of coincidence at the two output ports displays oscillations (as the path-length difference is swept) with a spatial period equal to the 413-nm wavelength of the pump photons, and with a visibility of 62% when the path-length difference exceeds the coherence length of the individual photon beams. This unequivocally demonstrates the nonclassical and entangled nature of the two-photon state.

Physical Review Letters•Sep 1, 1990•325 citations

EPR experiment and 2-photon interferometry: Report of a 2-photon interference experiment

Yanhua H. Shih, Morton H. Rubin, Alexander V. Sergienko

After a very brief review of the historical Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) experiments, a new two-photon interference type EPR experiment is reported. A two-photon state was generated by optical parametric down conversion. Pairs of light quanta with degenerate frequency but divergent directions of propagation were sent to two independent Michelson interferometers. First and second order interference effectors were studied. Different than other reports, we observed that the second order interference visibility vanished when the optical path difference of the interferometers were much less than the coherence length of the pumping laser beam. However, we also observed that the second order interference behaved differently depending on whether the interferometers were set at equal or different optical path differences.

•Feb 1, 1992•0 citations

Two-photon interference in a standard Mach-Zehnder interferometer

Yanhua H. Shih, Alexander V. Sergienko, Morton H. Rubin +2 more

A pair of light quanta with different colors (155.9-nm difference in center wavelength) generated from parametric down-conversion was injected collinearly into one input port of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Coincidence interference behavior was studied over a wide range of optical path differences of the interferometer. A measurement of 75% interference visibility with oscillation of the pump frequency for a large optical path difference of the interferometer (43 cm) is the signature of a quantum two-photon entangled state, which reflects both particle and wave nature of the light quanta in one experiment.

Physical Review A•May 1, 1994•39 citations

Quantum interference of a mode-locked two-photon state

Hai-bo Wang, Takayoshi Kobayashi

In this paper, the quantum interference of a mode-locked two-photon state, which is a new phenomenon that has recently been experimentally observed, is analyzed. We show some interference fringes that will be observed in an unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

Physical Review A•Nov 16, 2004•2 citations
We use a parametric down-conversion source pumped by a short-coherence-length continuous-wave (CW) diode laser to perform two-photon interferometry in an intermediate regime between the more familiar Franson-type experiments with a long-coherence-length pump laser, and the short pulsed pump ``time-bin'' experiments pioneered by Gisin's group. The use of a time-bin-like Mach-Zehnder interferometer in the CW pumping beam induces coherence between certain two-photon amplitudes, while the CW nature of the experiment prevents the elimination of remaining incoherent ones. The experimental results highlight the role of pump coherence in two-photon interferometry.
A two-photon interference experiment is presented in which an entangled pair of photons generated from a parametric down-conversion was incident on two input ports of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The experiment was carried out using two photon coincidence detection with two detectors at the two output ports of the interferometer. The measured coincidence counts exhibit an interference effect with visibility of 0.75 at simultaneous inputs and 0.38 at inputs with different arrival times according to the degree of photon number entanglement.
Pairs of 826.8-nm correlated photons, generated by parametrically down-converting 413.4-nm krypton-ion laser light, are directed into a single Mach-Zehnder interferometer such that each photon of the pair enters a different input port. The rate of coincidence at the two output ports displays oscillations (as the path-length difference is swept) with a spatial period equal to the 413-nm wavelength of the pump photons, and with a visibility of 62% when the path-length difference exceeds the coherence length of the individual photon beams. This unequivocally demonstrates the nonclassical and entangled nature of the two-photon state.
After a very brief review of the historical Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen (EPR) experiments, a new two-photon interference type EPR experiment is reported. A two-photon state was generated by optical parametric down conversion. Pairs of light quanta with degenerate frequency but divergent directions of propagation were sent to two independent Michelson interferometers. First and second order interference effectors were studied. Different than other reports, we observed that the second order interference visibility vanished when the optical path difference of the interferometers were much less than the coherence length of the pumping laser beam. However, we also observed that the second order interference behaved differently depending on whether the interferometers were set at equal or different optical path differences.
A pair of light quanta with different colors (155.9-nm difference in center wavelength) generated from parametric down-conversion was injected collinearly into one input port of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Coincidence interference behavior was studied over a wide range of optical path differences of the interferometer. A measurement of 75% interference visibility with oscillation of the pump frequency for a large optical path difference of the interferometer (43 cm) is the signature of a quantum two-photon entangled state, which reflects both particle and wave nature of the light quanta in one experiment.