Relativistic frame-dragging and the Hong-Ou-Mandel dip $-$ a primitive to gravitational effects in multi-photon quantum-interference

Abstract

We investigate the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) effect -a two-photon quantum-interference effectin the space-time of a rotating spherical mass. In particular, we analyze a common-path HOM setup restricted to the surface of the earth and show that, in principle, general-relativistic frame-dragging induces observable shifts in the HOM dip. For completeness and correspondence with current literature, we also analyze the emergence of gravitational time-dilation effects in HOM interference, for a dual-arm configuration. The formalism thus presented establishes a basis for encoding generalrelativistic effects into local, multi-photon, quantum-interference experiments. Demonstration of these instances would signify genuine observations of quantum and general relativistic effects, in tandem, and would also extend the domain of validity of general relativity, to the arena of quantized electromagnetic fields.

The Deep Space Quantum Link: Prospective Fundamental Physics Experiments using Long-Baseline Quantum Optics

“…These techniques may be useful in probing the intersection of quantum mechanics and general relativity, since the HOM effect is truly nonclassical [55]. Suppose that the two paths of the interferometer are held at different gravitational potentials.…”