Characterizing Temporal Distinguishability of an N-Photon State by Generalized Photon Bunching Effect with Multi-Photon Interference

TL;DR

This paper introduces a scheme using generalized photon bunching to quantitatively assess the temporal distinguishability of an N-photon state through multi-photon interference, advancing quantum measurement techniques.

Contribution

It proposes a novel constructive interference scheme combining N-photon and single-photon states to measure temporal distinguishability quantitatively.

Findings

The scheme effectively characterizes temporal distinguishability.

It extends to more general multi-photon interference cases.

Provides a new method for quantum state analysis.

Abstract

The complementary principle of quantum mechanics relates qualitatively the visibility of quantum interference with path indistinguishability. Here we propose a scheme of constructive quantum interference involving superposition between an $N$-photon state and a single-photon state to characterize quantitatively the degree of temporal distinguishability of the $N$-photon state. This scheme is based on a generalized photon bunching effect. Such a scheme can be extended to other more general cases.