Theory of interferometric photon-correlation measurements: Differentiating coherent from chaotic light

A. Lebreton, I. Abram, R. Braive, I. Sagnes, I. Robert-Philip, and A. Beveratos
Phys. Rev. A 88, 013801 – Published 2 July 2013

Abstract

Interferometric photon-correlation measurements, which correspond to the second-order intensity cross correlations between the two output ports of an unbalanced Michelson (or Mach-Zehnder) interferometer, are sensitive to both amplitude and phase fluctuations of an incoming beam of light. Here, we present the theoretical framework behind these measurements and show that they can be used to unambiguously differentiate a coherent wave undergoing dynamical amplitude and phase fluctuations from a chaotic state of light. This technique may thus be used to characterize the output of nanolasers and monitor the onset of coherent emission.

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  • Received 29 March 2013

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.88.013801

©2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. Lebreton, I. Abram, R. Braive, I. Sagnes, I. Robert-Philip*, and A. Beveratos

  • Laboratoire de Photonique et Nanostructures LPN-CNRS UPR-20, Route de Nozay, 91460 Marcoussis, France

  • *Corresponding author: isabelle.robert@lpn.cnrs.fr

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Vol. 88, Iss. 1 — July 2013

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