What Does 0.1 Expected Photon Per Pulse Mean in Quantum Cryptography?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the interpretation of "0.1 expected photon per pulse" in the context of quantum cryptography, specifically referencing the paper "Experimental Quantum Cryptography" by C. Bennett et al. This metric indicates that, on average, each laser pulse contains 0.1 photons, implying that approximately 90% of the pulses do not contain any photons. The conversation also touches on the implications of Poisson statistics in photon number, as noted in S. N. Molotkov's paper on integrating quantum cryptography into fiber-optic systems. The discussion highlights the complexities of photon behavior, including concepts like wave function collapse and Schrödinger Cat superposition.

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  • Basic grasp of laser physics and coherent states.
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phonon44145
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Maybe a stupid question, but anyway. The paper "Experimental Quantum Cryptography" by C. Bennettet al. discusses laser pulses of 0.1 expected photon per pulse. What does that mean physically? Is it that 90% of laser pulses are not pulses at all, containing no photons and thereby no energy? Or are these pulses real in the same sense as wave function is real and the photon wave function can collapse into anyone of the pulses? Or is it that each pulse is a Schrödinger Cat superposition between emitted and non-emitted photon? If it can be of any help, another paper on the same topic (S. N. Molotkov, "Integration of Quantum Cryptography into fiber-optic telecommunication systems") claims that laser radiation(coherent state) has Poisson statistics in the photon number. Thanks in advance.
 
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I don't think that this is a stupid question! because I have a similar question involving Rabi oscillations of state probabilities induced by photons or parts of photons. Since this tread is do old, I'll post my question as a new thread.
 

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