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

The Rochester Conferences on Coherence and Quantum Optics and the Quantum Information and Measurement meeting

Polarization Modulations in Two-Beam Interference

Ari T. Friberg

Published Jan 1, 2019• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Polarization-state modulations are essential in two-beam interference of random vector light. We demonstrate their role in assessing coherence, polarization, and geometric phase. For quantum light, they provide new insights into complementarity and photon wave-particle duality.
DOI
10.1364/cqo.2019.w3a.1

Related papers

Coherence and Complementarity of Vector Light Quantum Fields

Andreas Norrman, Kasimir Blomstedt, Tero Setälä +1 more

We explore coherence and complementarity of vectorial quantum light fields in double-slit interference, providing new insights into the role of polarization modulation and the degree of polarization in photon wave–particle duality.

The Rochester Conferences on Coherence and Quantum Optics and the Quantum Information and Measurement meeting•Jan 1, 2019•0 citations

Polarization and geometric phase effects in quantum and classical light interference

Elvis Pillinen

This thesis concerns the role of polarization, coherence, and geometric phase in both quantum and classical light interference.In the quantum domain, the thesis analyzes vector-light interference in a doubleslit geometry for single-photon and multiphoton states.Using a coherence Stokes formalism, a unified description of polarization modulation, geometric phase, and wave-particle duality is established.Single-photon interference is shown to exhibit a fundamental complementarity relation that directly links the geometric phase at the observation screen to which-path information at the slits.This framework is further extended to higher-order interference of multimode N00N states, where Nth-order polarization modulation and geometric-phase accumulation scale linearly with photon number and lead to new higher-order vector-light complementarity relations.In the classical domain, the thesis explores beam and pulse shaping enabled by polarization gratings.Spatial polarization gratings are shown to provide control over the profiles, coherence, diffraction orders, and polarization of partially coherent and partially polarized pulsed beams.The analysis is further extended to ultrafast pulse shaping, where spectral polarization gratings generate multiple temporally shifted pulses with distinct polarization states.Furthermore, a novel Poincaré pulse in the spatiospectral domain is presented.

•Sep 23, 2026•0 citations

Complementarity and Polarization Modulation in Photon Interference

Andreas Norrman, Kasimir Blomstedt, Tero Setälä +1 more

We derive two general complementarity relations for the distinguishability and visibility of genuine vector-light quantum fields in double-pinhole photon interference involving polarization modulation. The established framework reveals an intrinsic aspect of wave-particle duality of the photon, not previously reported, thus providing deeper insights into foundational quantum interference physics.

Physical Review Letters•Jul 25, 2017•31 citations

Vector-light quantum complementarity and the degree of polarization

Andreas Norrman, Ari T. Friberg, Gerd Leuchs

The dual wave–particle nature of light and the degree of polarization are fundamental concepts in quantum physics and optical science, but their exact relation has not been explored within a full vector-light quantum framework that accounts for interferometric polarization modulation. Here, we consider vector-light quantum complementarity in double-pinhole photon interference and derive a general link between the degree of polarization and wave–particle duality of light. The relation leads to an interpretation for the degree of polarization as a measure describing the complementarity strength between photon path predictability and so-called Stokes visibility, the latter taking into account both intensity and polarization variations in the observation plane. It also unifies results advanced in classical studies by showing that the degree of polarization can be viewed as the ability of a light beam to exhibit intensity and polarization-state fringes. The framework we establish thus provides novel aspects and deeper insights into the role of the degree of polarization in quantum-light complementarity and photon interference.

Optica•Jan 22, 2020•30 citations

Complementarity of Vectorial Quantum Light

Andreas Norrman, Kasimir Blomstedt, Tero Setälä +2 more

We study partial coherence and polarization in double-pinhole photon interference and establish two general complementarity relations for genuine vectorial quantum-light fields. The framework uncovers new fundamental aspects of photon wave–particle duality.

Frontiers in Optics•Jan 1, 2018•0 citations

Vector-light interference with a multimode N00N state

Elvis Pillinen, Tero Setälä, Andreas Norrman

Multimode N00N states stand out as an excellent platform to explore higher-order quantum interference phenomena, with benefits in quantum-enhanced estimation of multiple parameters beyond classical limits. Here, we investigate higher-order polarization properties, geometric phase features, and associated wave-particle duality structures in double-slit vector-light interference involving a multimode N00N state. We particularly show that the interferometric polarization modulation and the accompanied geometric phase accumulation are N times faster for the multimode N00N state than for one-photon or classical light. We also formulate N th -order extensions of the three wave-particle duality relations established for a single vector-light photon: the two via distinguishabilities and visibilities [A. Norrman , ], and the one via the geometric phase and which-path information ratio [E. Pillinen , ]. Our work contributes to the broader fundamental understanding of how vectorial quantum light acts in higher-order interference, with possible opportunities in precision metrology outside scalar-field regimes.

Physical Review Research•Jan 20, 2026•0 citations
This thesis concerns the role of polarization, coherence, and geometric phase in both quantum and classical light interference.In the quantum domain, the thesis analyzes vector-light interference in a doubleslit geometry for single-photon and multiphoton states.Using a coherence Stokes formalism, a unified description of polarization modulation, geometric phase, and wave-particle duality is established.Single-photon interference is shown to exhibit a fundamental complementarity relation that directly links the geometric phase at the observation screen to which-path information at the slits.This framework is further extended to higher-order interference of multimode N00N states, where Nth-order polarization modulation and geometric-phase accumulation scale linearly with photon number and lead to new higher-order vector-light complementarity relations.In the classical domain, the thesis explores beam and pulse shaping enabled by polarization gratings.Spatial polarization gratings are shown to provide control over the profiles, coherence, diffraction orders, and polarization of partially coherent and partially polarized pulsed beams.The analysis is further extended to ultrafast pulse shaping, where spectral polarization gratings generate multiple temporally shifted pulses with distinct polarization states.Furthermore, a novel Poincaré pulse in the spatiospectral domain is presented.
The dual wave–particle nature of light and the degree of polarization are fundamental concepts in quantum physics and optical science, but their exact relation has not been explored within a full vector-light quantum framework that accounts for interferometric polarization modulation. Here, we consider vector-light quantum complementarity in double-pinhole photon interference and derive a general link between the degree of polarization and wave–particle duality of light. The relation leads to an interpretation for the degree of polarization as a measure describing the complementarity strength between photon path predictability and so-called Stokes visibility, the latter taking into account both intensity and polarization variations in the observation plane. It also unifies results advanced in classical studies by showing that the degree of polarization can be viewed as the ability of a light beam to exhibit intensity and polarization-state fringes. The framework we establish thus provides novel aspects and deeper insights into the role of the degree of polarization in quantum-light complementarity and photon interference.
Multimode N00N states stand out as an excellent platform to explore higher-order quantum interference phenomena, with benefits in quantum-enhanced estimation of multiple parameters beyond classical limits. Here, we investigate higher-order polarization properties, geometric phase features, and associated wave-particle duality structures in double-slit vector-light interference involving a multimode N00N state. We particularly show that the interferometric polarization modulation and the accompanied geometric phase accumulation are N times faster for the multimode N00N state than for one-photon or classical light. We also formulate N th -order extensions of the three wave-particle duality relations established for a single vector-light photon: the two via distinguishabilities and visibilities [A. Norrman , ], and the one via the geometric phase and which-path information ratio [E. Pillinen , ]. Our work contributes to the broader fundamental understanding of how vectorial quantum light acts in higher-order interference, with possible opportunities in precision metrology outside scalar-field regimes.