Quantum effects have been studied on photon propagation in the context of quantum optics since the second half of the last century. In particular, using single photon emitters, fundamental tests of quantum mechanics were explored by manipulating single to few photons in Hanbury-Brown and Twiss and Hong Ou Mandel experiments.

In nanophysics, there is a growing interest to translate these concepts of quantum optics to electrons propagating in nanostructures. In particular, in ballistic quantum conductors, the propagation of electrons is not hindered by collisions and the phase of the wavefunction is preserved on a few microns which corresponds to the typical size of the conductor. One can then manipulate and study the coherence properties of electron beams in the electronic analog of quantum optics experiment. However, electron optics experiments differ strongly from their optical counterpart as electrons are interacting fermions


Seminar, April 4, 2017, 15:00. Seminar Room

Hosted by Prof. Adrian Bachtold