Two-photon quantum interference in a Michelson interferometer (4 pages)

Fuyuan Wang, Bao‐Sen Shi, Guang‐Can Guo

H. Kim, Oh‐Min Kwon

Tomoyuki Horikiri, Yasuo Yanagihara, H. Wang +1 more

Satoru Odate, Hai-bo Wang, Takayoshi Kobayashi

We have observed two-photon quantum interference in a Michelson interferometer. For the first time, we experimentally demonstrated two-photon quantum interference patterns, which show the transition from nonsubwavelength interference fringes to the general subwavelength interference. At the same time, a photon bunching effect was also shown by a postselection. The \ensuremath{\mid}1, 1⟩ state with a single photon in a mode corresponding to each arm of the interferometer was exclusively postselected by using path difference between two arms.

Dorilian Lopez-Mago, Lukáš Novotný

The interference of entangled photon pairs permits the study of the fundamental properties of quantum mechanics. The process is also finding practical applications in optical imaging. The Michelson interferometer provides an elegant means for characterizing the degree of two-photon entanglement, but the technique has not yet been described and analyzed in detail. Here we provide a full description of the interference of collinear down-converted photons in a Michelson interferometer. We explain the basic elements that characterize the interference pattern and complement the theory with experimental measurements. The two-photon Michelson interferometer can be used in quantum optical coherence tomography for dispersion-free imaging and localization.

Richard J. Birrittella, Jihane Mimih, Christopher C. Gerry