Measurement of Photon Statistics with Live Photoreceptor Cells
Nigel Sim, Mei Fun Cheng, Dmitri Bessarab, C. Michael Jones, and, Leonid A. Krivitsky
TL;DR
This study measures how isolated frog rod cells respond to different light sources, revealing differences in response characteristics that could impact quantum optics applications in biology.
Contribution
It provides the first detailed electrophysiological comparison of rod cell responses to coherent versus pseudo-thermal light sources.
Findings
Differences in average responses to different light types
Variations in signal-to-noise ratios
Distinct second order intensity correlation functions
Abstract
We analyzed the electrophysiological response of an isolated rod photoreceptor of Xenopus laevis under stimulation by coherent and pseudo-thermal light sources. Using the suction electrode technique for single cell recordings and a fiber optics setup for light delivery allowed measurements of the major statistical characteristics of the rod response. The results indicate differences in average responses of rod cells to coherent and pseudo-thermal light of the same intensity and also differences in signal-to-noise ratios and second order intensity correlation functions. These findings should be relevant for interdisciplinary studies seeking applications of quantum optics in biology.
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