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

Journal of the Optical Society of America A

Synchronous position two-photon interference of random-phase grating

Peilong Hong, Guoquan Zhang

Published Jun 8, 2015• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

By generalizing the phase structure of the random-phase grating we recently designed [Opt. Express21, 14056 (2013)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OE.21.014056], we show that non-HBT type (synchronous position) two-photon grating interference can be obtained, which physically relies on groups of multiple indistinguishable two-photon paths modulated by the spatial distributions of phase modes. By properly selecting the random-phase structures, synchronous position subwavelength interference can be obtained, the period of which, in the two-photon interference domain, is decreased by a factor N (=3,4,5,6,…), depending on the slit number and random-phase structure, and the visibility of N-fold subwavelength interference fringes could be improved by increasing the slit number of the grating. The results show that modulation on two-photon paths via spatial arrangements of the phase modes offers the possibility to actively control the optical high-order coherence in the same optical scheme.

DOI
10.1364/josaa.32.001256

Related papers

High visibility two-photon interference with classical light

Peilong Hong, Lei Xu, Zhaohui Zhai +1 more

Two-photon interference with independent classical sources, in which superposition of two indistinguishable two-photon paths plays a key role, is of limited visibility with a maximum value of 50%. By using a random-phase grating to modulate the wavefront of a coherent light, we introduce superposition of multiple indistinguishable two-photon paths, which enhances the two-photon interference effect with a signature of visibility exceeding 50%. The result shows the importance of phase control in the control of high-order coherence of classical light.

arXiv:1301.5945•Optics Express•Jun 5, 2013•7 citations

Subwavelength interference with an effective entangled source

Peilong Hong, Guoquan Zhang

We propose a two-photon subwavelength interference scheme for classical light in which multiple quantum-like entangled two-photon paths play an essential role. These entangled two-photon paths are introduced through a specially designed source composed of many point sources $j$ with $j$'s complex amplitude being a superposition of modes ${e}^{i{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}}$ and ${e}^{i{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}^{(1)}}$, where ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}$ and ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}^{(1)}$ are temporally random phases but satisfying ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}+{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}^{(1)}={\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}$, with ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}$ being either a constant or a random phase in time. Interference between the entangled two-photon paths could lead to second-order subwavelength interference of an object put in front of the source plane. In a proof-of-principle experiment, by using a spatial light modulator to modulate the wave front of a coherent light, we have generated such a source and observed subwavelength interference of a double-slit mask via two-photon measurement.

Physical Review A•Oct 25, 2013•16 citations

Super-resolved optical lithography with phase controlled source

Peilong Hong, Guoquan Zhang

Recently, we have demonstrated that second-order subwavelength interference could be realized in an optical lithography scheme with an effective entangled source [P. Hong and G. Zhang, Phys. Rev. A 88, 043838 (2013)]. In this paper, by considering the correlation function in both the source plane and observation plane, we show how the coherence property of such a source is controlled via introduction of random-phase correlation, which finally affects the two-photon interference effect observed in the far-field plane. Furthermore, by introducing different but similar random-phase correlations, we generalize the phase controlled source with particular high-order coherence properties to obtain higher-order subwavelength interference, i.e., high-order super-resolved optical lithography. These results show the importance of phase control in generating a light field with particular high-order coherence properties.

Physical Review A•May 18, 2015•8 citations

Young’s double-slit interference with two-color biphotons

Dejian Zhang, Shuang Wu, Hong-Guo Li +3 more

In classical optics, Young's double-slit experiment with colored coherent light gives rise to individual interference fringes for each light frequency, referring to single-photon interference. However, two-photon double-slit interference has been widely studied only for wavelength-degenerate biphoton, known as subwavelength quantum lithography. In this work, we report double-slit interference experiments with two-color biphoton. Different from the degenerate case, the experimental results depend on the measurement methods. From a two-axis coincidence measurement pattern we can extract complete interference information about two colors. The conceptual model provides an intuitional picture of the in-phase and out-of-phase photon correlations and a complete quantum understanding about the which-path information of two colored photons.

arXiv:1709.02498•Scientific Reports•Dec 6, 2017•14 citations

Two-photon superbunching of thermal light via multiple two-photon path interference

Peilong Hong, Jianbin Liu, Guoquan Zhang

We report on the two-photon superbunching effect of thermal light via constructive multiple two-photon path interference, showing the possibility of controlling the bunching property of thermal light in a linear optical system. By inserting $n$ pairs of mutually first-order incoherent optical channels as a cascade into the traditional Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) interferometer, the two-photon bunching peak-to-background ratio of thermal light can be increased by up to $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1.{5}^{n}$, surpassing the theoretical upper limit of 2 for a traditional HBT interferometer. Experimentally, the ratio was measured to be $2.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1$ when one pair of optical channels was inserted. Such a scheme can be viewed as a prototype of a two-photon grating.

arXiv:1108.3612•Physical Review A•Jul 6, 2012•28 citations

Phase Random Walk Trace in High-order Coherence of Two First-order Incoherent Sources

Peilong Hong, Guoquan Zhang

High-order coherence effects between two first-order incoherent sources with fully independent phases have been well studied in the literature, which shows interference fringes with respect to the position separations among different space points. Here we show that this is not the whole story, and find that the high-order coherence effects depend on the mode of the phase random walk of the first-order incoherent sources, which can be controlled artificially and represented geometrically by vectorial polygons. Interestingly, by scanning the detectors along the same direction with the position separations between them kept constant, a set of high-order coherence fringes, which fingerprint the phase random walk of the first-order incoherent sources, can be observed. Our results show that it is possible to control the high-order coherence of two first-order incoherent sources, which could have important practical applications such as superhigh resolution optical lithography.

arXiv:1405.2381•May 10, 2014•0 citations
By generalizing the phase structure of the random-phase grating we recently designed [Opt. Express21, 14056 (2013)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OE.21.014056], we show that non-HBT type (synchronous position) two-photon grating interference can be obtained, which physically relies on groups of multiple indistinguishable two-photon paths modulated by the spatial distributions of phase modes. By properly selecting the random-phase structures, synchronous position subwavelength interference can be obtained, the period of which, in the two-photon interference domain, is decreased by a factor N (=3,4,5,6,…), depending on the slit number and random-phase structure, and the visibility of N-fold subwavelength interference fringes could be improved by increasing the slit number of the grating. The results show that modulation on two-photon paths via spatial arrangements of the phase modes offers the possibility to actively control the optical high-order coherence in the same optical scheme.
Two-photon interference with independent classical sources, in which superposition of two indistinguishable two-photon paths plays a key role, is of limited visibility with a maximum value of 50%. By using a random-phase grating to modulate the wavefront of a coherent light, we introduce superposition of multiple indistinguishable two-photon paths, which enhances the two-photon interference effect with a signature of visibility exceeding 50%. The result shows the importance of phase control in the control of high-order coherence of classical light.
We propose a two-photon subwavelength interference scheme for classical light in which multiple quantum-like entangled two-photon paths play an essential role. These entangled two-photon paths are introduced through a specially designed source composed of many point sources jjj with jjj's complex amplitude being a superposition of modes ${e}^{i{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}}$ and ${e}^{i{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}^{(1)}}$, where ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}$ and ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}^{(1)}$ are temporally random phases but satisfying ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}+{\ensuremath{\phi}}_{j}^{(1)}={\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}$, with ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}$ being either a constant or a random phase in time. Interference between the entangled two-photon paths could lead to second-order subwavelength interference of an object put in front of the source plane. In a proof-of-principle experiment, by using a spatial light modulator to modulate the wave front of a coherent light, we have generated such a source and observed subwavelength interference of a double-slit mask via two-photon measurement.
Recently, we have demonstrated that second-order subwavelength interference could be realized in an optical lithography scheme with an effective entangled source [P. Hong and G. Zhang, Phys. Rev. A 88, 043838 (2013)]. In this paper, by considering the correlation function in both the source plane and observation plane, we show how the coherence property of such a source is controlled via introduction of random-phase correlation, which finally affects the two-photon interference effect observed in the far-field plane. Furthermore, by introducing different but similar random-phase correlations, we generalize the phase controlled source with particular high-order coherence properties to obtain higher-order subwavelength interference, i.e., high-order super-resolved optical lithography. These results show the importance of phase control in generating a light field with particular high-order coherence properties.
In classical optics, Young's double-slit experiment with colored coherent light gives rise to individual interference fringes for each light frequency, referring to single-photon interference. However, two-photon double-slit interference has been widely studied only for wavelength-degenerate biphoton, known as subwavelength quantum lithography. In this work, we report double-slit interference experiments with two-color biphoton. Different from the degenerate case, the experimental results depend on the measurement methods. From a two-axis coincidence measurement pattern we can extract complete interference information about two colors. The conceptual model provides an intuitional picture of the in-phase and out-of-phase photon correlations and a complete quantum understanding about the which-path information of two colored photons.
We report on the two-photon superbunching effect of thermal light via constructive multiple two-photon path interference, showing the possibility of controlling the bunching property of thermal light in a linear optical system. By inserting nnn pairs of mutually first-order incoherent optical channels as a cascade into the traditional Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) interferometer, the two-photon bunching peak-to-background ratio of thermal light can be increased by up to $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1.{5}^{n}$, surpassing the theoretical upper limit of 2 for a traditional HBT interferometer. Experimentally, the ratio was measured to be $2.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1$ when one pair of optical channels was inserted. Such a scheme can be viewed as a prototype of a two-photon grating.
High-order coherence effects between two first-order incoherent sources with fully independent phases have been well studied in the literature, which shows interference fringes with respect to the position separations among different space points. Here we show that this is not the whole story, and find that the high-order coherence effects depend on the mode of the phase random walk of the first-order incoherent sources, which can be controlled artificially and represented geometrically by vectorial polygons. Interestingly, by scanning the detectors along the same direction with the position separations between them kept constant, a set of high-order coherence fringes, which fingerprint the phase random walk of the first-order incoherent sources, can be observed. Our results show that it is possible to control the high-order coherence of two first-order incoherent sources, which could have important practical applications such as superhigh resolution optical lithography.