Theory of Single-photon Interference Experiments

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Abstract
Expressions are derived for the density matrix elements appropriate to single-quantum excitation of the two arms of optical interferometers where an amplifier is inserted into one of the arms. The results are used to calculate mean intensities, correlations and photon number distributions for the outputs of Michelson and Hanbury Brown and Twiss interferometers. It is concluded that the noise output of the amplifier obscures quantum effects in the interferometer responses.