PT Journal
AU Stevens, MJ
   Baek, B
   Dauler, EA
   Kerman, AJ
   Molnar, RJ
   Hamilton, SA
   Berggren, KK
   Mirin, RP
   Nam, SW
TI High-order temporal coherences of
chaotic and laser light
SO Optics Express
JI Opt. Express
PY 2010
BP 1430
EP 1437
VL 18
IS 2
DE SNSPD
AB We demonstrate a new approach to measuring high-order temporal coherences that uses a four-element superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. The four independent, interleaved single-photon-sensitive elements parse a single spatial mode of an optical beam over dimensions smaller than the minimum diffraction-limited spot size. Integrating this device with four-channel time-tagging electronics to generate multi-start, multi-stop histograms enables measurement of temporal coherences up to fourth order for a continuous range of all associated time delays. We observe high-order photon bunching from a chaotic, pseudo-thermal light source, measuring maximum third- and fourth-order coherence values of 5.87 ± 0.17 and 23.1 ± 1.8, respectively, in agreement with the theoretically predicted values of 3! = 6 and 4! = 24. Laser light, by contrast, is confirmed to have coherence values of approximately 1 for second, third and fourth orders at all time delays.
ER