Photon Antibunching

Hanbury Brown–Twiss interferometer · g²(τ) correlation function

Controls

Statistics

g²(τ) = ⟨n(t)n(t+τ)⟩ / ⟨n(t)⟩²
g²(0) =   
g²(0) < 1 → Quantum light (sub-Poissonian)
g²(0) = 1 → Coherent / Poissonian (laser)
g²(0) = 2 → Thermal / bunched (HBT star)
Coincidences: 0
Total events: 0

Physics

A beamsplitter routes photons to detectors D1 and D2. Classical fields always show some simultaneous hits (g²(0)≥1). A single quantum emitter can only emit one photon at a time — so D1 and D2 cannot click simultaneously: g²(0)→0.

The dip width equals the photon coherence time τ_c. This experiment (Kimble 1977) was the first direct proof that light is quantized into discrete photons.