Quantum interference of light polarization states via polarization quasiprobability functions
V. P. Karassiov, Anatoly Viktorovich Masalov · Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics · 2002
Quantum interference of polarization states of light radiation is investigated using a Wigner-type ( W ) polarization quasiprobability function. Two examples of light states, having the form of a macroscopically distinguishable superposition of either coherent or Fock states with alternatively excited polarization modes, are considered. Interference phenomena are shown to be connected with a specific entanglement of quantum states (due to their ‘mirror-like’ forms) and to be characterized by a universal ‘four-photon’ periodicity parameter. These effects are well exhibited via the negativity of the polarization W function and can be observed in direct polarization measurements.