We have observed the three-photon correlation in nonclassical light sources by using an indirect measurement scheme based on the dead time effect of photon-counting detectors. We first developed a general theory which enables us to extract the three-photon correlation from the two-photon correlation of an arbitrary light source measured with detectors with finite dead times. We then confirmed the validity of our measurement scheme in experiments done with the cavity-QED microlaser operating with a large intra-cavity mean photon number exhibiting both sub- and super-poissoniaq photon statistics. The experimental results were in a good agreement with the theoretical expectation. Our measurement scheme provides an alternative approach for N-photon correlation measurement employing (N-1) detectors and thus a reduced measurement time for a given signal-to-noise ratio, compared to the usual scheme requiring N detectors.
Complementarity theory is the essence of the Copenhagen interpretation. Since the Hanbury Brown and Twiss experiments, the particle nature of photons has been intensively studied for various quantum phenomena such as anticorrelation and Bell inequality violation in terms of two-photon correlation. Regarding the fundamental question on these quantum features, however, no clear answer exists for how to generate such an entanglement photon pair and what causes the maximum correlation between them. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the physics of anticorrelation on a beam splitter using sub-Poisson distributed coherent photons, where a particular photon number is post-selected using a multiphoton resolving coincidence measurement technique. According to Born rule regarding self-interference in an interferometric scheme, a photon does not interact with others, but can interfere by itself. This is the heart of anticorrelation, where a particular phase relation between paired photons is unveiled for anticorrelation, satisfying the complementarity theory of quantum mechanics.
Continuous variable entanglement is a manifestation of nonclassicality of quantum states. In this paper we attempt to analyze whether and under which conditions nonclassicality can be used as an entanglement criterion. We adopt the well-accepted definition of nonclassicality in the form of lack of well-defined positive Glauber Sudarshan P-function describing the state. After demonstrating that the classicality of subsystems is not sufficient for the nonclassicality of the overall state to be identifiable with entanglement, we focus on Gaussian states and find specific local unitary transformations required to arrive at this equivalency. This is followed by the analysis of quantitative relation between nonclassicality and entanglement.
The second order photon correlation g^(2)(tau) of a chaotic optical-feedback semiconductor laser is precisely measured using a Hanbury Brown-Twiss interferometer. The accurate g^(2)(tau) with non-zero delay time is obtained experimentally from the photon pair time interval distribution through a ninth-order self-convolution correction. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical analysis. The relative error of g^(2)(tau) is no more than 0.005 within 50 ns delay time. The bunching effect and coherence time of the chaotic laser are measured via the precise photon correlation technique. This technique provides a new tool to improve the accuracy of g^(2)(tau) measurement and boost applications of quantum statistics and correlation.
We report the observation of nonclassical light generated via photon blockade in a photonic crystal cavity with a strongly coupled quantum dot. By tuning the frequency of the probe laser with respect to the cavity and quantum dot resonance we can probe the system in either photon blockade or photon-induced tunneling regime. The transition from one regime to the other is confirmed by the measurement of the second order correlation that changes from anti-bunching to bunching.
The efficient certification of nonclassical effects of light forms the basis for applications in optical quantum technologies. We derive general correlation conditions for the verification of nonclassical light based on multiplexed detection. The obtained nonclassicality criteria are valid for imperfectly-balanced multiplexing scenarios with on-off detectors and do not require any knowledge about the detector system. In this sense they are fully independent of the detector system. In our experiment, we study light emitted by clusters of single-photon emitters, whose photon number may exceed the number of detection channels. Even under such conditions, our criteria certify nonclassicality with high statistical significance.