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arXiv · 2201.04655

Distinguishability and mixedness in quantum interference

Alex E Jones·Shreya Kumar·Simone D'Aurelio·Matthias Bayerbach·Adrian J Menssen·Stefanie Barz
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Abstract

We study the impact of distinguishability and mixedness -- two fundamental properties of quantum states -- on quantum interference. We show that these can influence the interference of multiple particles in different ways, leading to effects that cannot be observed in the interference of two particles alone. This is demonstrated experimentally by interfering three independent photons in pure and mixed states and observing their different multiphoton interference, despite exhibiting the same two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference. Besides its fundamental relevance, our observation has important implications for quantum technologies relying on photon interference.

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Alex E Jones, Shreya Kumar, Simone D'Aurelio, Matthias Bayerbach, Adrian J Menssen, Stefanie Barz. 2022-01-12. Distinguishability and mixedness in quantum interference. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.108.053701

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