Measurements of photon correlations in quasi-coherent optical fields

[摘要] The purpose of this investigation was to construct the experimental apparatus for measuring second-order intensity correlation functions of the type T2,2 (x,t,x,t+T) = < : I(x,t)I(x,t+T):>. This measurement was applied to the radiation field produced by a two axial mode Helium-Neon gas laser in order to verify the intensity fluctuation correlations due to the beating of the two axial modes of the laser. The axial mode separation was measured for comparison with a scanning Fabry Perot interferometer and also an RF spectrum analyzer. The correlation measurement was also applied to the second harmonic radiation field produced by the. parametric interaction in a LiNb03 crystal pumped with two axial modes. The experimental determination of the correlation <:I(x,t)I(x,t+T):> involves a time-spectroscopy measurement in which one photon is detected at point x, and another at point x, T seconds later, and measuring the probability of two-fold coincident detection as a function of T. The radiation field was split into two beams at a partially transmitting reflector, each of which was directed incident on the photocathode of a photomultiplier tube. The photoelectron pulses from the tubes were amplified and standardized. These standardized pulses were then temporally correlated with the use of a time-to-amplitude converter (TAC) and a multi-channel pulse height analyzer (MA). The time-to-amplitude conversions generated by the TAC were stored in the channels of the PHA, which was a direct measure of the two-fold delayed coincidence detection rate, R(T). The second-order intensity correlation functions <:I(x,t)I(x,t+T):> are determined from measurements of R(T). The fluctuating components of the second-order intensity correlation functions were found to be in agreement with what would be expected on a classical basis. Correspondingly, the capability is demonstrated of the experimental apparatus measuring a quantity relating to the second-order intensity correlation function.

[发布机构] Rice University