Skip to main content
Log in

Wave-particle duality for single photons

  • Quantum Optics
  • Published:
Hyperfine Interactions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

By use of an atomic radiative cascade, we have been able to produce single photon states of the light. This light has been submitted to two different experiments. The first one shows an anticorrelation on both sides of a beam splitter (corpuscle-like behaviour). The second one yields interferences (wave-like behaviour).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. Loudon, Rep. Progr. Phys. 43 (1980) 913.

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  2. R. Loudon,The Quantum Theory of Light, 2nd ed. (Clarendon, Oxford, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  3. P. Grangier, G. Roger and A. Aspect, Europhysics Lett. 1 (1986) 173; P. Grangier, thèse de doctorat d'état, Université Paris XI, Orsay (1986).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. P.A.M. Dirac,The Principles of Quantum Mechanics (Oxford University Press, 1958).

  5. W.E. Lamb and M.O. Scully, in:Polarisation, Matière et Rayonnement, ed. Société Française de Physique (Presses Universitaires de France, Paris, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  6. D.C. Burnham and D.L. Weinberg, Phys. Rev. Lett. 25 (1970) 84; S. Friberg, C.K. Hong and L. Mandel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 54 (1985) 2011.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. J.F. Clauser, Phys. Rev. D9 (1974) 853.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. H.J. Kimble, M. Dagenais and L. Mandel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 39 (1977) 691; J.D. Cresser, J. Hager, G. Leuchs, M. Rateike and H. Walther, in:Topics in Current Physics, Vol 27 (Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. R. Short and L. Mandel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 51 (1983) 384; M.C. Teich and B.E.A. Saleh, J.O.S.A. B2 (1985) 275. All the recent observations of squeezing also constitute an evidence for “non-classical states of light”.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. A. Aspect, P. Grangier and G. Roger, Phys. Rev. Lett. 47 (1981) 460.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Since our experiment, single photon pulses have been produced by a different technique, which consists in producing pairs of photons emitted in parametric splitting, and using one of these photons for the gating system. A theoretical advantage of these techniques is a better time and angular correlation between the two photons of a pair. See C.K. Hong and L. Mandel, Phys. Rev. Lett. 56 (1986) 58; J.G. Walker and E. Jakeman, Optica Acta 32 (1985) 1303.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. E.S. Fry, Phys. Rev. A8 (1973) 1219.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aspect, A., Grangier, P. Wave-particle duality for single photons. Hyperfine Interact 37, 1–17 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395701

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395701

Keywords

Navigation