Two-photon interference with thermally pumped three-level atomic system

Abstract EN

The system of atomic three –level cascade emission has been investigated as a potential source for two–photon interference experiments.

The theory of a two-photon interference experiment with thermally pumped three-level atomic system acting as a source of the two-photon state is formulated.

General results for mean number of photon coincidences in the two output arms of a beam-splitter in two-photon interference experiment are obtained.

The results generalized previous results of other workers for the same system.

It is found that such a system exhibits clear signs of two-photon interference effects for small atomic pumping rate.

The results obtained show interference effects that cannot be accounted for by the classical theory of light.

They form a contribution to the series of quantum optical effects studied before.