Nearly 30 years ago, two-photon interference was observed, marking the beginning of a new quantum era. Indeed, two-photon interference has no classical analogue, giving it a distinct advantage for a range of applications. The peculiarities of quantum physics may now be used to our advantage to outperform classical computations, securely communicate information, simulate highly complex physical systems and increase the sensitivity of precise measurements. This separation from classical to quantum physics has motivated physicists to study two-particle interference for both fermionic and bosonic quantum objects. So far, two-particle interference has been observed with massive particles, among others, such as electrons and atoms, in addition to plasmons, demonstrating the extent of this effect to larger and more complex quantum systems. A wide array of novel applications to this quantum effect is to be expected in the future. This review will thus cover the progress and applications of two-photon (two-particle) interference over the last three decades.

Two-photon interference: the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect.

Two-photon interference: the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect

Optical lossless beam splitters are frequently encountered in fundamental physics experiments regarding the nature of light, including "which-way" determination of light particles, N. Bohr's complementarity principle, or the EPR paradox and all their measurement apparatus. Although they look as common optical components at first glance, their behaviour remains somewhat mysterious since they apparently exhibit stand-alone particle-like features, and then wave-like characteristics when inserted into a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. In this communication are examined and discussed some basic properties of these beamssplitters, both from a classical optics and quantum physics point of view. Herein some convergences and contradictions are highlighted, and the results of a few emblematic experiments demonstrating photon existence are discussed. An alternative empirical model in wave optics is also proposed in order to shed light on some remaining questions

Quantum physics and the beam splitter mystery

Quantum interference between a single-photon Fock state and a coherent state

Quantum interference constitutes one of the sharpest divides between our classical intuition and the weirdness of the quantum world. Whenever there are multiple paths leading to the same outcome, it is the interplay of associated probability amplitudes that determines measurement results. In the double slit experiment, wave-like interference governs the distribution of particles on a detection screen. Extending to multiple particles allows behaviour that cannot be described by a classical wave, such as the bunching of photon pairs in Hong-Ou-Mandel interference. In both these examples, the ability to distinguish the interfering paths leads to degradation of interference and a return to behaviour described by probabilities. Understanding how this transition evolves for larger multiparticle quantum systems is of fundamental interest and also vital for developing photonic quantum technologies that rely on many-photon interference. In this thesis we investigate the role of distinguishability in the interference of three and four independent photons by using polarisation and time delays. For three photons, a new type of collective distinguishing phase appears that goes beyond a pairwise description of the similarity of quantum states. We use nonlinear photon sources and a fibre interferometer to experimentally demonstrate the ability to tune and isolate this phase in interference statistics. Extending to four photons we show that, contrary to intuition from two-photon experiments, the interference of photons prepared in distinguishable states is possible due to a four-particle phase. This is confirmed experimentally using a bulk four-mode interferometer. We then extend our study to include the effects of state impurity in the interference of three photons. New properties of this interference enable diagnosis of realistic experimental imperfections and characterisation tasks impossible using only two photons. Finally, we link discussions of state distinguishability to the group representations underpinning the exchange symmetry of multiparticle wavefunctions.

Distinguishability in quantum interference

Some properties of the reflectivity and transmissivity of multilayer dielectric optical coatings are derived from energy conservation applied to a beam splitter acting as a beam combiner. It is shown that dispersion in the phase shifts of the beam splitter coatings influences which quadrature amplitude is measured in a homodyne detector, and, in a Michelson interferometer, how the white-light fringe pattern is disposed about the zero-path-difference condition. The functions of reflectivity and transmissivity that determine these properties are shown to be not completely constrained by considerations of energy conservation and time reversibility, in contrast to commonly employed models for beam splitter reflectivity and transmissivity. Some representative beam splitter coating designs are used to illustrate this point.

M. W. Hamilton

Papers

Phase shifts in multilayer dielectric beam splitters