English

Classical Bound for Mach-Zehnder Super-Resolution

Quantum Physics 2015-05-18 v1

Abstract

The employment of path entangled multiphoton states enables measurement of phase with enhanced precision. It is common practice to demonstrate the unique properties of such quantum states by measuring super-resolving oscillations in the coincidence rate of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Similar oscillations, however, have also been demonstrated in various configurations using classical light only; making it unclear what, if any, are the classical limits of this phenomenon. Here we derive a classical bound for the visibility of super-resolving oscillations in a Mach-Zehnder. This provides an easy to apply, fundamental test of non-classicality. We apply this test to experimental multiphoton coincidence measurements obtained using photon number resolving detectors. Mach-Zehnder super-resolution is found to be a highly distinctive quantum effect.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1002.0684,
  title  = {Classical Bound for Mach-Zehnder Super-Resolution},
  author = {Itai Afek and Oron Ambar and Yaron Silberberg},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1002.0684},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

4 pages, 4 figure, Comments welcome

R2 v1 2026-06-21T14:42:49.048Z