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Main Authors: Arrieta, Melissa Coronado, Kiefer, Boris
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.27751
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author Arrieta, Melissa Coronado
Kiefer, Boris
author_facet Arrieta, Melissa Coronado
Kiefer, Boris
contents The Hong--Ou--Mandel (HOM) effect is often introduced through a single benchmark: coincidence suppression for \(\ket{1}\otimes\ket{1}\) at a balanced beam splitter. We present a classroom-oriented instructional module that broadens this treatment by comparing three output metrics -- on/off coincidence probability \(P_c\), cross-correlation \(g^{(2)}_{12}\), and noise-reduction factor NRF -- across four input families: Fock, superposition, coherent, and squeezed light. The module targets three instructional challenges in upper-division quantum optics: treating interference quality as a single observable, weakly connecting quantum--classical distinctions to output statistics, and limiting transfer from two-mode HOM reasoning to broader photonic benchmarking questions. A common beam-splitter sweep shows that different metrics probe different statistical properties of the same output state and can therefore support different source choices depending on the physical objective. The module combines a Jupyter/QuTiP simulator, guided activities, specification-style summary tables, and a grading rubric for use in a single upper-division or early graduate class meeting.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_27751
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Beyond the HOM Dip: A Multi-Metric Module for Teaching Two-Mode Quantum Optical Interference
Arrieta, Melissa Coronado
Kiefer, Boris
Physics Education
The Hong--Ou--Mandel (HOM) effect is often introduced through a single benchmark: coincidence suppression for \(\ket{1}\otimes\ket{1}\) at a balanced beam splitter. We present a classroom-oriented instructional module that broadens this treatment by comparing three output metrics -- on/off coincidence probability \(P_c\), cross-correlation \(g^{(2)}_{12}\), and noise-reduction factor NRF -- across four input families: Fock, superposition, coherent, and squeezed light. The module targets three instructional challenges in upper-division quantum optics: treating interference quality as a single observable, weakly connecting quantum--classical distinctions to output statistics, and limiting transfer from two-mode HOM reasoning to broader photonic benchmarking questions. A common beam-splitter sweep shows that different metrics probe different statistical properties of the same output state and can therefore support different source choices depending on the physical objective. The module combines a Jupyter/QuTiP simulator, guided activities, specification-style summary tables, and a grading rubric for use in a single upper-division or early graduate class meeting.
title Beyond the HOM Dip: A Multi-Metric Module for Teaching Two-Mode Quantum Optical Interference
topic Physics Education
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.27751