2014/12/29 by Jianbin Liu, Huaibin Zheng, Hui Chen +3
Physics and Astronomy · #Coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) #Coherence theory #Coherence time #Interference (communication) #Laser #Optical path length #Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #Random lasers and scattering media #Superposition principle #Thermal #physics.optics #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1364/oe.23.011868
published as Optics Express, 23, 11869 (2015) · 10 pages, 6 figures. Submitted for publication and comments are welcome
arxiv created 2014/12/29 · openalex publication_date 2015/04/27 · arxiv updated 2015/04/29 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The first- and second-order temporal interference between two independent thermal and laser light beams is discussed by employing the superposition principle in Feynman's path integral theory. It is concluded that the first-order temporal interference pattern can not be observed by superposing two independent thermal and laser light beams, while the second-order temporal interference pattern can be observed in the same condition. These predictions are experimentally verified by employing pseudothermal light to simulate thermal light. The relationship between the indistinguishability of alternatives and photons is analyzed. The conclusions are helpful to understand the interference of different kinds of light and the difference between the coherence properties of thermal and laser light.