Generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel experiments with bosons and fermions

Abstract

The Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) dip has played an important role in recent linear optics experiments. It is crucial for quantum computing with photons and can be used to characterize the quality of single photon sources and linear optics setups. In this paper, we consider generalized HOM experiments with N bosons or fermions passing simultaneously, i.e. within their coherence time, through a symmetric Bell multiport beam splitter. It is shown that for an even number of bosons, the HOM dip occurs naturally in the coincidence detection in the output ports. In contrast, fermions always leave the setup separately, exhibiting perfect coincidence detection. Our results can be used to verify or employ the quantum statistics of particles experimentally. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.