NOON-state generation and superresolved interference in a double-slit experiment

Maximally entangled NOON states are proposed to be generated with N independent photons and a fixed double-slit in the Young's interference experiment. A strict condition is required that these photons have to be arranged in a straight line and separated from each other by certain equal distances. The initial product state turns into a NOON state of the photons at the double-slit, after N-photon postselected measurements. With a spatially random laser beam, we experimentally investigate the high-order correlation functions to imitate the behavior of the single-photon and N-photon wave packets of the NOON states. Since the N-photon wave packet is the product of N single-photon wave packets, two methods are adopted to observe the superresolved fringes. The first method is to use the product of the second-order correlation functions. The second one is to measure the 2Nth-order correlation functions. In the both cases, the superresolved fringes of up to fourth order are successfully observed.

Automated summary

Maximally entangled NOON states can be generated with N independent photons and a fixed double-slit in the Young's interference experiment. The photons need to be arranged in a straight line and separated by equal distances. Experimental investigation shows that the high-order correlation functions of the N-photon wave packets of the NOON states can be imitated using a spatially random laser beam. Superresolved fringes up to fourth order can be observed using the product of second-order correlation functions or the measurement of 2Nth-order correlation functions.