Quantum properties of a single beam splitter

TL;DR

This paper explores the quantum behavior of a single beam splitter with bosonic Fock states, revealing generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel effects and quantum oscillations influenced by measurement-induced phase and quantum angle.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analysis of particle distributions at a beam splitter involving larger bosonic Fock states, highlighting effects beyond traditional two-photon interference.

Findings

Identification of quantum population oscillations

Generalization of Hong-Ou-Mandel effect for many particles

Role of quantum phase and angle in particle distribution

Abstract

When a single beam-splitter receives two beams of bosons described by Fock states (Bose-Einstein condensates at very low temperatures), interesting generalizations of the two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel effect take place for larger number of particles. The distributions of particles at two detectors behind the beam splitter can be understood as resulting from the combination of two effects, the spontaneous phase appearing during quantum measurement, and the quantum angle. The latter introduces quantum "population oscillations", which can be seen as a generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel effect, although they do not always correspond to even-odd oscillations.