2017/12/31 by L. Rigovacca, W. Steven Kolthammer, W. S. Kolthammer +3
Computer Science · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Character (mathematics) #Computer science #Correlation function (quantum field theory) #Function (biology) #Interference (communication) #Interferometry #Mathematics #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Phase (matter) #Photon #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum mechanics #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #Statistical physics #physics.optics #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreva.97.033809
published as Phys. Rev. A 97, 033809 (2018) · 11+1 pages, 4 figures, close to published version
openalex publication_date 2018/03/09 · arxiv created 2018/03/10 · arxiv updated 2018/03/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We develop a nonclassicality criterion for the interference of three delayed, but otherwise identical, light fields in a three-mode Bell interferometer. We do so by comparing the prediction of quantum mechanics with those of a classical framework in which independent sources emit electric fields with random phases. In particular, we evaluate third-order correlations among output intensities as a function of the delays, and show how the presence of a correlation revival for small delays cannot be explained by the classical model of light. The observation of a revival is thus a nonclassicality signature, which can be achieved only by sources with a photon-number statistics that is highly sub-Poissonian. Our analysis provides strong evidence for the nonclassicality of the experiment discussed by Menssen et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 153603 (2017)], and shows how a collective ``triad'' phase affects the interference of any three or more light fields, irrespective of their quantum or classical character.