Second-Order Interference Effect of Polarized Light Based on Two-Photon Absorption Detection

The two-photon interference effect of polarized light holds significant research importance in quantum optics. Different types of polarized light exhibit distinct interference behaviors, making the systematic study of these behaviors crucial. This paper introduces the concept of the polarization two-photon coherence matrix and provides a theoretical explanation for the differences in two-photon interference phenomena among linear, circular, and elliptically polarized light. Using a polarization Michelson interferometer based on two-photon absorption detection, second-order interference images of circularly polarized and elliptically polarized light were experimentally captured. The differences in these two-photon interference phenomena can be elucidated by visualizing the polarization coherence matrix. Furthermore, this theory was applied to the study of sub-wavelength interference phenomena of circularly polarized light, confirming the universality of the theoretical model and offering new perspectives and tools for the study of quantum optics.