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− | It involves two photons feeding both inputs of a [[beam-splitter]] (BS). The basic idea is that of indistinguishability: if it cannot be tracked which photon is going through which path of the beam splitter, then the amplitudes of the two photons exiting in different ports cancel and thus they are both detected together. Remarkably, through "quantum erasing",{{cite|kwiat92a}} this indistinguishability can occur even if the photon never "see" each other, showing that the two-photon interference is not an interference of two photons!{{cite|pittman96a}} This was demonstrated with a day of the photons not seeing each other!{{cite|kim20a}} | + | The '''''Hong-Ou-Mandel effect''''' (HOM for short) is a [[quantum-optical]] effect of two-photon interference. It is named after [[Chung Ki Hong]], [[Zhe-Yu Ou]] and [[Leonard Mandel]],{{cite|hong87a}} although similar ideas appeared simultaneously from various groups{{cite|bouchard20a}} (some even refer to the HOM dip as the "Shih-Alley dip"). |
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+ | It involves two photons feeding both inputs of a [[beam-splitter]] (BS). The basic idea is that of indistinguishability: if it cannot be tracked which photon is going through which path of the beam splitter, then the amplitudes of the two photons exiting in different ports cancel and thus they are both detected together.{{cite|digiuseppe03a}} Remarkably, through "quantum erasing",{{cite|kwiat92a}} this indistinguishability can occur even if the photon never "see" each other, showing that the two-photon interference is not an interference of two photons!{{cite|pittman96a}} This was demonstrated with a day of the photons not seeing each other!{{cite|kim20a}} | ||
As a conclusion of this photon coalescence, if placing two single-photon detectors at the outputs of the beam-splitter, they will never both detect one photon each, leading to a suppression of coincidence, known as the HOM dip. The shape of this in time can be computed from the spectral shape of the photon wavepacket.<ref>Agata M. Brańczyk: “Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference”, 2017; [http://arxiv.org/abs/1711.00080 arXiv:1711.00080].</ref> | As a conclusion of this photon coalescence, if placing two single-photon detectors at the outputs of the beam-splitter, they will never both detect one photon each, leading to a suppression of coincidence, known as the HOM dip. The shape of this in time can be computed from the spectral shape of the photon wavepacket.<ref>Agata M. Brańczyk: “Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference”, 2017; [http://arxiv.org/abs/1711.00080 arXiv:1711.00080].</ref> | ||
A beautiful demonstration is made by Jachura and Chrapkiewicz{{cite|jachura15a}}: | A beautiful demonstration is made by Jachura and Chrapkiewicz{{cite|jachura15a}}: | ||
− | <center><wz tip="Jachura and Chrapkiewicz's single-frame demonstration of the HOM effect: detection always occurs on the same side.">[[File:Screenshot_20240224_173003.png| | + | <center><wz tip="Jachura and Chrapkiewicz's single-frame demonstration of the HOM effect: detection always occurs on the same side.">[[File:Screenshot_20240224_173003.png|bottom|414px]]</wz> |
+ | <wz tip="Animated version (adapted from Jachura ''et al.''">[[File:HOM-Jachura-animated.gif|14px]]</wz></center> | ||
Variations include admixing a Fock state with a coherent state{{cite|rarity05a}} | Variations include admixing a Fock state with a coherent state{{cite|rarity05a}} | ||
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The interference of classical beams was treated in detail by Pfleegor and Mandel.{{cite|pfleegor67a}} | The interference of classical beams was treated in detail by Pfleegor and Mandel.{{cite|pfleegor67a}} | ||
− | The theoretical limit for the HOM visibility is 1/2 for weak coherent states.{{cite|rarity05a}} This was described in more detail by Chen (陈华){{ | + | The theoretical limit for the HOM visibility is 1/2 for weak coherent states.{{cite|rarity05a}} This was described in more detail by Chen (陈华){{etal}}{{cite|chen16a}} |
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+ | Other cases of interest include weak coherent beams{{cite|kim20b}}{{cite|kim21a}} and more generally, two-photon interferences (though not HOM) of thermal light.{{cite|scarcelli04a}} | ||
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+ | == Testimonies == | ||
− | + | {{quote|Among the whole experiments using entangled pairs of photons, the famous experiment of two-photon interference, now known as Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference [14], is probably one of the most fascinating.|{{devaux20a}}}} | |
== References == | == References == |
Contents |
The Hong-Ou-Mandel effect (HOM for short) is a quantum-optical effect of two-photon interference. It is named after Chung Ki Hong, Zhe-Yu Ou and Leonard Mandel,[1] although similar ideas appeared simultaneously from various groups[2] (some even refer to the HOM dip as the "Shih-Alley dip").
It involves two photons feeding both inputs of a beam-splitter (BS). The basic idea is that of indistinguishability: if it cannot be tracked which photon is going through which path of the beam splitter, then the amplitudes of the two photons exiting in different ports cancel and thus they are both detected together.[3] Remarkably, through "quantum erasing",[4] this indistinguishability can occur even if the photon never "see" each other, showing that the two-photon interference is not an interference of two photons![5] This was demonstrated with a day of the photons not seeing each other![6]
As a conclusion of this photon coalescence, if placing two single-photon detectors at the outputs of the beam-splitter, they will never both detect one photon each, leading to a suppression of coincidence, known as the HOM dip. The shape of this in time can be computed from the spectral shape of the photon wavepacket.[7] A beautiful demonstration is made by Jachura and Chrapkiewicz[8]:
Variations include admixing a Fock state with a coherent state[9]
the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) effect has been referred to as “the heart of quantum mechanics” for being exquisitely quantum in nature, with absolutely no analogue in classical physics
We are particularly interested in the HOM effect with classical light, as we believe it says one thing or two about the stochastic theory of interferences (which is at the heart of the HBT effect).
The interference of classical beams was treated in detail by Pfleegor and Mandel.[10]
The theoretical limit for the HOM visibility is 1/2 for weak coherent states.[9] This was described in more detail by Chen (陈华) et al.[11]
Other cases of interest include weak coherent beams[12][13] and more generally, two-photon interferences (though not HOM) of thermal light.[14]
Among the whole experiments using entangled pairs of photons, the famous experiment of two-photon interference, now known as Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference [14], is probably one of the most fascinating.
See also: