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

Nonlocal Coherent Perfect Absorption

John Jeffers

Published Oct 1, 2019• 19 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Coherent absorption that occurs at two spatially separated, macroscopic lossy beam splitters is described. A superposition mode of any phase can be chosen as the absorbed or transparent mode. For a nonclassical two-photon NOON-state input, a superposition of two photons entering via one of two separate input modes, a single photon can survive the pair of beam splitters with certainty, implying nonlocal absorption of a single photon, which can be detected via the interference in the two-photon survival probability.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.123.143602

Related papers

Quantum optics of lossy beam splitters

Stephen Mark Barnett, John Jeffers, A. Gatti +1 more

The familiar input-output relations for an optical beam splitter are generalized to allow for linear absorption by the medium forming the mirror. Beam-splitter losses generally affect the noise levels detectable in experiments involving nonclassical light. When employed to investigate two-photon interference effects, a lossy beam splitter can lead to apparent nonlinear absorption, which, in the most extreme case, leads to either both or neither of the photons being absorbed. The degree of second-order coherence of antibunched light can be maintained on transmission through the beam splitter but any amplitude squeezing in the incident light is degraded.

Physical Review A•Mar 1, 1998•184 citations

Comment on "Nonlocal Coherent Perfect Absorption"

Pablo L. Saldanha

We show that, contrary to what is claimed in Ref. [J. Jeffers, Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 143602 (2019)], there is no nonlocal coherent absorption by the two lossy beam splitters considered in detail in the treatment of the setup presented in this reference. What happens is a local coherent absorption by the other two lossy beam splitters of the setup.

arXiv:1912.08194•Dec 17, 2019•0 citations

Interference and the lossless lossy beam splitter

J. Jeffers

By directing the input into a particular mode it is possible to obtain as output all of the input light for a beam splitter which is 50% absorbing. This effect is also responsible for nonlinear quantum interference when two photons are incident on the beam splitter.

Journal of Modern Optics•Sep 15, 2000•8 citations

Interference and the lossless lossy beam splitter

J. Jeffers

By directing the input into a particular mode it is possible to obtain as output all of the input light for a beam splitter which is 50% absorbing. This effect is also responsible for nonlinear quantum interference when two photons are incident on the beam splitter.

arXiv:quant-ph/0007025•Journal of Modern Optics•Sep 1, 2000•47 citations

Interference and the lossless lossy beam splitter

John Jeffers

Abstract. By directing the input light into a particular mode it is possible to obtain as output all of the input light for a beam splitter that is 50 % absorbing. This effect is also responsible for nonlinear quantum interference when two photons are incident on the beam splitter. 1 1

•Jan 1, 2000•32 citations

Bunching of Photons When Two Beams Pass Through a a Beam Splitter

Kirk T. McDonald, L.J. Wang

Dirac has written "Each photon then interferes only with itself. Interference between two different photons never occurs." Indeed, a practical definition is that "classical" optics consists of phenomena due to the interference of photons only with themselves. However, photons obey Bose statistics which implies a ``nonclassical'' tendency for them to ``bunch''. For a simple example of nonclassical optical behavior, we consider two pulses of photons of a single frequency that are simultaneously incident on two sides of a lossless, 50:50 beam splitter.

arXiv:quant-ph/0312032•Dec 3, 2003•2 citations
Coherent absorption that occurs at two spatially separated, macroscopic lossy beam splitters is described. A superposition mode of any phase can be chosen as the absorbed or transparent mode. For a nonclassical two-photon NOON-state input, a superposition of two photons entering via one of two separate input modes, a single photon can survive the pair of beam splitters with certainty, implying nonlocal absorption of a single photon, which can be detected via the interference in the two-photon survival probability.
The familiar input-output relations for an optical beam splitter are generalized to allow for linear absorption by the medium forming the mirror. Beam-splitter losses generally affect the noise levels detectable in experiments involving nonclassical light. When employed to investigate two-photon interference effects, a lossy beam splitter can lead to apparent nonlinear absorption, which, in the most extreme case, leads to either both or neither of the photons being absorbed. The degree of second-order coherence of antibunched light can be maintained on transmission through the beam splitter but any amplitude squeezing in the incident light is degraded.
Dirac has written "Each photon then interferes only with itself. Interference between two different photons never occurs." Indeed, a practical definition is that "classical" optics consists of phenomena due to the interference of photons only with themselves. However, photons obey Bose statistics which implies a ``nonclassical'' tendency for them to ``bunch''. For a simple example of nonclassical optical behavior, we consider two pulses of photons of a single frequency that are simultaneously incident on two sides of a lossless, 50:50 beam splitter.