Spatial Coherence and Entanglement of Light

Di Lorenzo Pires, H. (2011)

Doctoral Thesis

In this thesis we investigate diverse aspects of spatial coherence of light. Non-classical fields containing two photons can be generated by a nonlinear optical process known as spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC). Among the questions we consider are: What is so special about spatial entanglement? How is it revealed in the fourth-order correlations? What are the differences between a highly entangled and a classically correlated state? How can the number of modes be manipulated and measured? For a two-photon system, we measure both intensities and two-photon correlations. To get deeper insights into how coherence affects interference, we also investigate completely classical sources.

• Quantum optics
• Entanglement
• Spatial coherence
• Orbital angular momentum
• Scattering of light

• All authors: Di Lorenzo Pires, H.
• Supervisor: Woerdman, J.P.
• Co-supervisor: Exter, M.P. van
• Committee: Eliel, E.R.; Beenakker, C.W.J.; Bouwmeester, D.; Nienhuis, G.; Dood, M.J.A. de; Lagendijk, A.; Zwiller, V.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Faculty of Science, Leiden University
• Date: 2011-09-13
• Title of host publication: Casimir PhD Series
• ISBN (print): 9789085931041
• Name: 2011-15
• Court: LEI Universiteit Leiden
• Sponsorship: Stichting FOM