All photons are equal but some photons are more equal than others

作者:Toeppel Falk; Aiello Andrea; Leuchs Gerd
来源:New Journal of Physics, 2012, 14: 093051.
DOI:10.1088/1367-2630/14/9/093051

摘要

Two photons are said to be identical if they are prepared in the same quantum state. Given the latter, there is a unique way to achieve this. Conversely, there are many different ways of preparing two non-identical photons: they may differ in frequency, polarization, amplitude, etc. Therefore, photon distinguishability depends upon the specific degree of freedom being varied. By means of a careful analysis of the coincidence probability distribution in a Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment, we can show that photon distinguishability can be actually quantified by the rate of distinguishability of photons, an experimentally measurable parameter that crucially depends on both the photon quantum state and the degree of freedom under control.

  • 出版日期2012-9-26