Second-order interference of two independent photons with different spectra*

Abstract

The second-order interference of two independent photons with different spectra in a Shih–Alley/Hong–Ou–Mandel interferometer is studied in Feynman’s path integral theory. There is a second-order interference pattern for photons with different spectra if the photons are indistinguishable for the employed detection system. The conditions to observe the second-order temporal beating with photons of different spectra are analyzed. The influence of the response time of the detection system on the observed second-order interference pattern is also discussed. It is a direct result of that measurement in quantum mechanics is dependent on the employed measuring apparatus. The results are helpful to understand the physics of two-photon interference in different schemes.