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Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Theoretical analysis of a polarized two-photon Michelson interferometer with broadband chaotic light

Yuchen He, Yu Zhou, Jianbin Liu, Sheng Luo, Huaibin Zheng, Hui Chen, Yanyan Liu, Fuli Li, Zhuo Xu

Published May 17, 2022• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Two-photon interference of broadband chaotic light in a Michelson interferometer is theoretically and numerically studied with a two-photon-absorption detector when polarizations are taken into account. Under the frame of quantum optics, the theoretical analysis is based on two-photon interference and Feynman path integral theory. A two-photon coherence matrix is introduced to calculate the second-order interference pattern. Our research shows that polarization is another dimension, as well as time and space, to tune the second-order interference pattern in the two-photon interference process. Polarizations can act as switches to manipulate the interference process and may open the door to some new experimental schemes. The quantum optical vector model is also helpful to understand the physics of second-order interference when the light source is quantum.

DOI
10.1364/josab.459233

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Two-photon interference of broadband chaotic light in a Michelson interferometer is theoretically and numerically studied with a two-photon-absorption detector when polarizations are taken into account. Under the frame of quantum optics, the theoretical analysis is based on two-photon interference and Feynman path integral theory. A two-photon coherence matrix is introduced to calculate the second-order interference pattern. Our research shows that polarization is another dimension, as well as time and space, to tune the second-order interference pattern in the two-photon interference process. Polarizations can act as switches to manipulate the interference process and may open the door to some new experimental schemes. The quantum optical vector model is also helpful to understand the physics of second-order interference when the light source is quantum.
In this paper, we study two-photon interference of broadband chaotic light in a Michelson interferometer with two-photon-absorption detector. The theoretical analysis is based on two-photon interference and Feynman path integral theory. The two-photon coherence matrix is introduced to calculate the second-order interference pattern with polarizations being taken into account. Our study shows that the polarization is another dimension, as well as time and space, to tune the interference pattern in the two-photon interference process. It can act as a switch to manipulate the interference process and open the gate to many new experimental schemes.
The two-photon interference effect of polarized light holds significant research importance in quantum optics. Different types of polarized light exhibit distinct interference behaviors, making the systematic study of these behaviors crucial. This paper introduces the concept of the polarization two-photon coherence matrix and provides a theoretical explanation for the differences in two-photon interference phenomena among linear, circular, and elliptically polarized light. Using a polarization Michelson interferometer based on two-photon absorption detection, second-order interference images of circularly polarized and elliptically polarized light were experimentally captured. The differences in these two-photon interference phenomena can be elucidated by visualizing the polarization coherence matrix. Furthermore, this theory was applied to the study of sub-wavelength interference phenomena of circularly polarized light, confirming the universality of the theoretical model and offering new perspectives and tools for the study of quantum optics.
The polarization modulation is employed to recover the hidden photon bunching effect of broadband chaotic light at ultrashort timescale based on two-photon absorption detector. Not only the hidden second-order coherence function in the two-photon absorption counting can be obtained, but also the disappeared two-photon interference pattern based on two-photon absorption detection can be recovered. In theory, polarization matrix and two-photon interference probability amplitudes matrix are combined to develop polarized two-photon interference terms, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The proposed method may help to develop future optical interferometry, optical polarimetry.
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The formation process of the second-order interference pattern is studied experimentally in the photon counting regime by superposing two independent single-mode continuous-wave lasers. Two-photon interference based on the superposition principle in Feynman's path integral theory is employed to interpret the experimental results. The second-order interference pattern of classical light can be formulated when, with high probability, there are only two photons in the interferometer at one time. The studies are helpful in understanding the second-order interference of classical light in the language of photons. The method and conclusions can be generalized to the third- and higher-order interference of light and interference of massive particles.
A series of different combinations of polarizers are employed to manipulate different two-photon interference phenomena in an all physical way. Not only the second-order coherence function hidden in the two-photon absorption counting can be obtained, but also the disappeared interference pattern based on two-photon absorption detection can be recovered. In theory, polarization matrix and two-photon interference matrix are combined to develop polarized two-photon interference terms, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. The proposed experiment and theory may serve as tools on the research of vector coherent optics and have potential application in some fields, such as optical polarimetry, optical interferometer and optical polarization communication.