Experimental Fock-state bunching capability of non-ideal single-photon states

Zapletal P, Darras T, Le Jeannic H, Cavailles A, Guccione G, Laurat J, Filip R (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Optica Optical Society of America

Book Volume: 8

Pages Range: 743-748

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1364/OPTICA.419230

Abstract

Advanced quantum technologies, as well as fundamental tests of quantum physics, crucially require the interference of multiple single photons in linear-optics circuits. This interference can result in the bunching of photons into higher Fock states, leading to a complex bosonic behavior. These challenging tasks timely require to develop collective criteria to benchmark many independent initial resources.Here we determine whether n independent imperfect single photons can ultimately bunch into the Fock state jni.We thereby introduce an experimental Fock-state bunching capability for single-photon sources, which uses phase-space interference for extreme bunching events as a quantifier. In contrast to autocorrelation functions, this operational approach takes into account not only residual multi-photon components but also a vacuum admixture and the dispersion of individual photon statistics.We apply this approach to high-purity single photons generated from an optical parametric oscillator and show that they can lead to a Fock-state capability of at least 14.Our work demonstrates a novel collective benchmark for single-photon sources and their use in subsequent stringent applications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Petr Zapletal

Involved external institutions

Palacky University Olomouc / Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci CZ Czech Republic (CZ) Sorbonne Université FR France (FR)

How to cite

APA:

Zapletal, P., Darras, T., Le Jeannic, H., Cavailles, A., Guccione, G., Laurat, J., & Filip, R. (2021). Experimental Fock-state bunching capability of non-ideal single-photon states. Optica, 8(5), 743-748. https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.419230

MLA:

Zapletal, Petr, et al. "Experimental Fock-state bunching capability of non-ideal single-photon states." Optica 8.5 (2021): 743-748.

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