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Chin. Phys. B, 2017, Vol. 26(1): 014201    DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/26/1/014201
ELECTROMAGNETISM, OPTICS, ACOUSTICS, HEAT TRANSFER, CLASSICAL MECHANICS, AND FLUID DYNAMICS Prev   Next  

Second-order temporal interference of two independent light beams at an asymmetrical beam splitter

Jianbin Liu(刘建彬)1,2, Jingjing Wang(王婧婧)1,2, Zhuo Xu(徐卓)1,2
1. Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China;
2. International Center for Dielectric Research, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
Abstract  

The second-order temporal interference of classical and nonclassical light at an asymmetrical beam splitter is discussed based on two-photon interference in Feynman's path integral theory. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern is determined by the properties of the superposed light beams, the ratio between the intensities of these two light beams, and the reflectivity of the asymmetrical beam splitter. Some requirements about the asymmetrical beam splitter have to be satisfied in order to ensure that the visibility of the second-order interference pattern of nonclassical light beams exceeds the classical limit. The visibility of the second-order interference pattern of photons emitted by two independent single-photon sources is independent of the ratio between the intensities. These conclusions are important for the researches and applications in quantum optics and quantum information when an asymmetrical beam splitter is employed.

Keywords:  two-photon interference      Feynman'      s path integral theory      asymmetrical beam splitter  
Received:  20 July 2016      Revised:  29 August 2016      Accepted manuscript online: 
PACS:  42.25.Hz (Interference)  
  42.50.Ar  
Fund: 

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11404255), the Doctor Foundation of Education Ministry of China (Grant No. 20130201120013), the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities, China (Grant No. B14040), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China.

Corresponding Authors:  Jianbin Liu     E-mail:  liujianbin@xjtu.edu.cn

Cite this article: 

Jianbin Liu(刘建彬), Jingjing Wang(王婧婧), Zhuo Xu(徐卓) Second-order temporal interference of two independent light beams at an asymmetrical beam splitter 2017 Chin. Phys. B 26 014201

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