The Bragg regime of the two-particle Kapitza-Dirac effect

TL;DR

This paper provides a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the two-particle Kapitza-Dirac effect in the Bragg regime, highlighting its potential as a massive two-particle beam splitter and its implications for quantum interference experiments.

Contribution

It extends the basic theory of the two-particle Kapitza-Dirac effect by including interaction time and multi-mode states, and compares it to quantum optics experiments.

Findings

Detection probabilities depend on interaction time and dimensionless parameters.

Presence of dips for massive bosons indicating quantum interference.

Differentiated behavior observed between distinguishable and identical particles.

Abstract

We analyze the Bragg regime of the two-particle Kapitza-Dirac arrangement, completing the basic theory of this effect. We provide a detailed evaluation of the detection probabilities for multi-mode states, showing that a complete description must include the interaction time in addition to the usual dimensionless parameter w. The arrangement can be used as a massive two-particle beam splitter. In this respect, we present a comparison with Hong-Ou-Mandel-type experiments in quantum optics. The analysis reveals the presence of dips for massive bosons and a differentiated behavior of distinguishable and identical particles in an unexplored scenario. We suggest that the arrangement can provide the basis for symmetrization verification schemes.