Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Observing fermionic statistics with photons in arbitrary processes

C. F. Matthews, Jonathan; Poulios, Konstantinos; D. A. Meinecke, Jasmin; Politi, Alberto; Peruzzo, Alberto; Ismail, Nur; W�rhoff, Kerstin; G. Thompson, Mark; L. O'Brien, Jeremy

Authors

Jonathan C. F. Matthews

Konstantinos Poulios

Jasmin D. A. Meinecke

Alberto Politi

Alberto Peruzzo

Nur Ismail

Kerstin W�rhoff

Mark G. Thompson

Jeremy L. O'Brien



Abstract

In contrast to classical physics, quantum mechanics divides particles into two classes-bosons and fermions-whose exchange statistics dictate the dynamics of systems at a fundamental level. In two dimensions quasi-particles known as 'anyons' exhibit fractional exchange statistics intermediate between these two classes. The ability to simulate and observe behaviour associated to fundamentally different quantum particles is important for simulating complex quantum systems. Here we use the symmetry and quantum correlations of entangled photons subjected to multiple copies of a quantum process to directly simulate quantum interference of fermions, bosons and a continuum of fractional behaviour exhibited by anyons. We observe an average similarity of 93.6\pm0.2% between an ideal model and experimental observation. The approach generalises to an arbitrary number of particles and is independent of the statistics of the particles used, indicating application with other quantum systems and large scale application.

Citation

C. F. Matthews, J., Poulios, K., D. A. Meinecke, J., Politi, A., Peruzzo, A., Ismail, N., …L. O'Brien, J. (2013). Observing fermionic statistics with photons in arbitrary processes. Scientific Reports, 3, Article 1539. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01539

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 28, 2013
Online Publication Date Mar 27, 2013
Publication Date Mar 27, 2013
Deposit Date Sep 23, 2019
Journal Scientific Reports
Print ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher Nature Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 3
Article Number 1539
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/srep01539
Keywords Quantum Physics; Optics
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2465724
Publisher URL https://www.nature.com/articles/srep01539