Characterizing Temporal Distinguishability of an N-Photon State by Generalized Photon Bunching Effect with Multi-Photon Interference


Abstract in English

The complementary principle of quantum mechanics relates qualitatively the visibility of quantum interference with path indistinguishability. Here we propose a scheme of constructive quantum interference involving superposition between an $N$-photon state and a single-photon state to characterize quantitatively the degree of temporal distinguishability of the $N$-photon state. This scheme is based on a generalized photon bunching effect. Such a scheme can be extended to other more general cases.

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