Stuttgart 2012 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik
Q 65: SYQM: Quantum limited measurement applications 2
Q 65.3: Talk
Friday, March 16, 2012, 15:00–15:15, V47.01
Beating the classical resolution limit via multi-photon interferences of independent light sources — Steffen Oppel1, Thomas Büttner1, Pieter Kok2, and •Joachim von Zanthier1 — 1Institut für Optik, Information und Photonik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany — 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Shefield, Shefield, UK
Multi-photon interferences with indistinguishable photons from independent light sources are at the focus of current research due to their potential in optical quantum computing, creating remote entanglement and quantum metrology. The paradigmatic states for multi-photon interference are the highly entangled NOON states which can be used to achieve enhanced resolution in interferometry and lithography [1]. Multi-photon interferences from independent, uncorrelated emitters can also lead to enhanced resolution [2]. So far, such quantum interferences have been observed with maximally two emitters. Here, we report multi-photon interferences with up to five independent emitters, displaying interference patterns equivalent to those of NOON states. Experimental results with independent thermal light sources confirm this NOON-like modulation. The experiment is an extension of the landmark measurement by Hanbury Brown and Twiss who investigated intensity correlations of second order. Here we go beyond this level by measuring spatial intensity correlations up to fifth order to further increase the resolution.
[1] A. N. Boto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2733 (2000).
[2] C. Thiel et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 133603 (2007).