Experimental Bounds on Classical Random Field Theories

TL;DR

This paper experimentally tests classical field theories against quantum mechanics using a heralded single-photon source, finding results consistent with quantum predictions and placing limits on certain alternative theories.

Contribution

It provides experimental bounds on classical field theories with power-dependent correlations, comparing them to quantum mechanics over a wide intensity range.

Findings

Results match quantum mechanical expectations

No significant power dependence observed

Limits placed on classical theories with power-dependent correlations

Abstract

Alternative theories to quantum mechanics motivate important fundamental tests of our understanding and descriptions of the smallest physical systems. Here, using spontaneous parametric downconversion as a heralded single-photon source, we place experimental limits on a class of alternative theories, consisting of classical field theories which result in power-dependent normalized correlation functions. In addition, we compare our results with standard quantum mechanical interpretations of our spontaneous parametric downconversion source over an order of magnitude in intensity. Our data match the quantum mechanical expectations, and do not show a statistically significant dependence on power, limiting on quantum mechanics alternatives which require power-dependent autocorrelation functions.