Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 055301 |
| Journal | European journal of physics |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 4 Jun 2018 |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2018 |
Abstract
We report on a step-by-step-series of experiments from statistical optics with classical light to undergraduate quantum optics with single-photon states, particularly suitable to paving an introductory way to quantum phenomena. We build up a progressive process analysing temporal variations of the irradiance of light discerned by measuring the value of the non-delayed second-order correlation function g (2)(τ = 0). We demonstrate how Poisson distributed photoelectron counts from constant irradiance (g (2)(0) = 1) can be used to calibrate the apparatus. Measurements with harmonically modulated irradiance of Poissonian light give an introduction to g (2)(0) correlation analysis. After these introductory steps, we demonstrate photon bunching with (pseudo-) thermal light (g (2)(0) ≈ 2), and finally show quantum antibunching of photons in Fock states (g (2)(0) ≈ 0). All measurements are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.
Keywords
- coincidence measurement, optics, quantum optics, second-order correlation, single-photon experiments, statistical optics, undergraduate experiments
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- General Physics and Astronomy
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In: European journal of physics, Vol. 39, No. 5, 055301, 09.2018.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Undergraduate quantum optics
T2 - Experimental steps to quantum physics
AU - Scholz, Ruediger
AU - Friege, Gunnar
AU - Weber, Kim Alessandro
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - We report on a step-by-step-series of experiments from statistical optics with classical light to undergraduate quantum optics with single-photon states, particularly suitable to paving an introductory way to quantum phenomena. We build up a progressive process analysing temporal variations of the irradiance of light discerned by measuring the value of the non-delayed second-order correlation function g (2)(τ = 0). We demonstrate how Poisson distributed photoelectron counts from constant irradiance (g (2)(0) = 1) can be used to calibrate the apparatus. Measurements with harmonically modulated irradiance of Poissonian light give an introduction to g (2)(0) correlation analysis. After these introductory steps, we demonstrate photon bunching with (pseudo-) thermal light (g (2)(0) ≈ 2), and finally show quantum antibunching of photons in Fock states (g (2)(0) ≈ 0). All measurements are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.
AB - We report on a step-by-step-series of experiments from statistical optics with classical light to undergraduate quantum optics with single-photon states, particularly suitable to paving an introductory way to quantum phenomena. We build up a progressive process analysing temporal variations of the irradiance of light discerned by measuring the value of the non-delayed second-order correlation function g (2)(τ = 0). We demonstrate how Poisson distributed photoelectron counts from constant irradiance (g (2)(0) = 1) can be used to calibrate the apparatus. Measurements with harmonically modulated irradiance of Poissonian light give an introduction to g (2)(0) correlation analysis. After these introductory steps, we demonstrate photon bunching with (pseudo-) thermal light (g (2)(0) ≈ 2), and finally show quantum antibunching of photons in Fock states (g (2)(0) ≈ 0). All measurements are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions.
KW - coincidence measurement
KW - optics
KW - quantum optics
KW - second-order correlation
KW - single-photon experiments
KW - statistical optics
KW - undergraduate experiments
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053138140&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/1361-6404/aac355
DO - 10.1088/1361-6404/aac355
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85053138140
VL - 39
JO - European journal of physics
JF - European journal of physics
SN - 0143-0807
IS - 5
M1 - 055301
ER -