Nonlocal quantum erasure of phase objects

Abstract

Franson interference is a fourth order interference effect which, unlike the better known Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, does not require the entangled photon pairs to be present at the same space-time location for interference to occur - it is nonlocal. Here, we use a modified Franson interferometer to experimentally demonstrate the nonlocal erasure and correction of an image of a phase-object taken through coincidence imaging. This nonlocal quantum erasure technique can have several potential applications such as phase corrections in quantum imaging and microscopy and also user authentication of two foreign distant parties.