Controllable Quantum Interference from Two-Photon Scattershot Sources

TL;DR

This paper presents a passive linear optical network capable of emulating various two-photon interference patterns, including the Hong-Ou-Mandel dip, with improved sampling efficiency and resource advantages.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-mode passive linear network that can controllably reproduce two-photon interference statistics regardless of photon entry points.

Findings

The network can replicate the Hong-Ou-Mandel dip and perfect coincidence rates.

It offers better sampling rates compared to simpler systems.

The network provides resource advantages for quantum interference experiments.

Abstract

We describe a multi-mode passive linear optical network which emulates the two-photon number statistics of a beam splitter, irrespective on where the two photons enter the network. This is done by firstly defining general properties that the generator of the network matrix must fulfil. We then show that the network's effective transmission coefficient can be freely set to replicate either the absence of coincidence counts (i.e. the Hong-Ou-Mandel dip), or a 100% coincidence rate, as well as all possible two-photon beam splitter statistics between these two extremal points. Finally, we demonstrate that this network, in comparison to simpler systems, provides a better sampling rate and other resource advantages.