Photon Interference Research Articles

Superpositions of coherent states: Squeezing and dissipation.

In this paper we discuss the nonclassical properties of quantum superpositions of coherent states of light. Using general expressions for the Wigner functions of superposition states we analyze the consequences of quantum interference between coherent states. We describe in detail nonclassical properties of a superposition of two coherent states. In particular, we study the oscillatory behavior of the photon number distribution of the even and odd coherent states. We show under which conditions a superposition of two coherent states can exhibit second- and fourth-order squeezing or sub-Poissonian photon statistics. We examine the sensitivity of nonclassical effects such as oscillations in the photon number distribution or second-order squeezing to dissipation. We demonstrate that quantities such as the photon number distribution and interferences in phase space are highly sensitive to even a quite small dissipative coupling, because they depend on all moments of the field observables, and higher moments decay more rapidly than lower moments. Quantities such as quadrature squeezing, on the other hand, are more robust against dissipation because they involve only lower moments. Finally, we find a remarkable effect whereby fourth-order squeezing is generated by damping.

The Savior of Science. Stanley L. Jaki

Previous articleNext article No AccessBook ReviewsThe Savior of Science. Stanley L. Jaki David C. LindbergDavid C. Lindberg Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Isis Volume 81, Number 3Sep., 1990 Publication of the History of Science Society Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/355463 Views: 8Total views on this site Citations: 2Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1990 History of Science Society, Inc.PDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:François Frémont Photon Interferences: History and Fundamental Aspects, (Jun 2013): 1–18.https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38479-0_1 John Neu Current Bibliography of the History of Science and Its Cultural Influences, 1991, Isis 82 (Oct 2015): 1–271.https://doi.org/10.1086/356021

Photon wave-packet diffraction by slits and apertures

The field theoretical method in the treatment of photon interference by D. F. Walls is generalized to deal with photon wave-packet diffraction by slits and apertures using the wave-packet reduction postulation. The general formulae for diffraction by one photon, n photons, and a coherent photon field are obtained. The explicit form of the wave packet of one or several photons is given.

Proposed Photon Interference Experiment for Test of Quantum Measurement Theories

We propose a possible experimental test of quantum measurement theories by means of a photon interference experiment, focusing on distinction between the many-Hilbert-spaces theory and the environment-induced-superselection-rule theory or the many-worlds interpretation.

Observation of nonclassical effects in the interference of two photons.

By measuring the joint probability for the detection of two photons at two points as a function of the separation between the points, we have demonstrated the existence of nonclassical effects in the interference of signal and idler photons in parametric down-conversion. In principle, the detection of one photon at one point rules out certain positions where the other photon can appear.

The effect of localization on interference. I. Calculated intensities for a feasible optical experiment

A simple geometry utilizing a laser-excited atomic beam as light source, and a nearby oscillating mirror, would permit the observation of a two-channel optical interference effect involving photons which can be localized predominantly in one channel by coincidence observations of the recoiling source atom. A sacrifice of the optimum conditions for photon interference is necessary even when photon localization in one channel is accomplished by an observation of the recoil atom. This necessity arises because the width of the slit defining the atomic beam, and with it the important optical source dimension, must be comparable to the optical wavelength to obtain the small uncertainty in initial total momentum needed for significant localization. Quantum mechanical calculations of the coincidence intensity and singles intensity as a function of mirror position are made for a source width of five quarter wavelengths and are compared to a classical optics calculation of the singles intensity. The coincidence intensity calculation, as expected, predicts a smaller interference effect than classical optics due to the photon localization. The singles intensity calculation also predicts the same reduction in the classical interference effect, as a consequence of the orthoganality of the final atom states.

Demonstrating Single Photon Interference

Demonstrating Single Photon Interference

Lecture experiment on the interference of single photons

Lecture experiment on the interference of single photons

Photon interference and correlation effects produced by independent quantum sources

Interference effects produced by independent quantum sources are investigated, when the state of the field is not describable as a simple mixture of coherent states. The results of classical and quantum-mechanical calculations are compared. Whereas correlation effects are predicted both classically and quantum mechanically when the sources have random phases, there are important differences when the number of atoms is small. In particular, when each source consists of just one atom, the joint probability of detecting two photons at two different points in the receiving plane is found to vanish when the distance between them is an odd number of half fringes. Finally it is shown that when the number of atoms of each source is subject to Poisson fluctuations, one recovers the solution given by classical optics for thermal light, no matter how weak the sources may be on the average.

Tests of quantum mechanics based on interference of photons

Some difficulties with a modified version of the Pfleegor-Mandel experiment recently proposed by Garuccio, Popper and Vigier are pointed out, and a different modification is proposed in order to test the conventional quantum mechanical interpretation.

A photon interference detector with continuous display

A photon interference detector with continuous display

A simple field theoretic description of photon interference

A description of photon-interference experiments of the Young’s type using the techniques of quantum-field theory is presented. In particular, an explicit illustration of Dirac’s statement that a photon interferes only with itself is given. The interference patterns produced by a one photon, an n photon and a coherent photon field are calculated. A discussion of the degree of optical coherence possessed by the above fields is also incorporated. by the above fields is also incorporated.

Quantum theory and the nature of interference

It is shown that many of the difficulties associated with the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum theory are resolved by a new interpretation of interference derived from solutions to Maxwell's equations. An infinite wave model of the photon based on these solutions is described and used to explain the interference of single photons as well as the corpuscular behavior evident in the Compton and photoelectric effects. The wave-particle duality and the uncertainty relations are also discussed. According to the new interpretation of interference in a Young's double-slit experiment, photons which pass through the left-hand slit always arrive in the left-hand part of the screen and no photons pass into this area via the right-hand slit. This conclusion is compared with the viewpoint of the Copenhagen school and an experiment to distinguish between them is suggested.

Axially-aligned, photon-blind, electron-multiplier arrangement for single-ion counting with a quadrupole mass filter

A quadrupole mass filter has been equipped with a simply constructed passive electrode aperture arrangement which effectively shields a high-gain electron multiplier used for single-pulse counting applications from photon interference.

Sensitivities for photon activation analysis with thick-target, 110-MeV electron bremsstrahlung

Experimental studies were conducted on the effects of the bremsstrahlung encrgy spectrum on photon activation analysis (PAA) sensitivities and interferences that result from the somewhat rigid operating conditions of the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (URELA). The electrons whose energy is seldom lowered below 100 MeV (for these studies, 105 to 140 MeV), are made to impinge on a massive (3.03 cm thick) tantalum target. In order to determine interference- free sensitivities for 16 elements, including Be, B, C, N, O, F, Na, Mg, Al, P, V, Ni, Cd, Sn, Ta, and Pb, the samples were bombarded at electron beam powers from 9.3 to 29.0 kW for 30 sec to 30 min. Radioactivity of the products was counted using a conventional gamma spectrometer. The best sensitivities were obtained for C, N, O, and particully, F. Results generally agree with those, both experimental and calculated, of other authors. (JGB)

X-ray holographic interferometry in the determination of planar multilayer structures. Theory and experimental observations

A theoretical treatment of X-ray diffraction from composite multilayer systems is given. These systems consist of two or three structures placed beside one another, each containing a number of different bimolecular leaflets as unit cells. Phase information for one of the structures in the composite system can be obtained, if another structure in the system is known precisely, from the interference of X-ray photons diffracted by the known structure with photons diffracted by the unknown structure. The experimental feasibility is demonstrated in an X-ray diffraction experiment.

The high-energy data on charged-pion photoproduction

The data are examined on high-energy charged-pion photoproduction, for 0<|t|<0.5 (GeV)2 and for 7<s<35 (GeV)2. The observed large amount of isoscalar-isovector photon interference will violate a Pomeranchuk-type theorem unless it disappears with increasing energy. Resonance-saturated FESR’s predict, in agreement with experiment, that the isovector amplitudes become dominant as |t| decreases to zero.