# Conservation Laws in Quantum-Correlation-Function Dynamics

Authors: Wei Wang; Mitsuo Takeda
Journal: Advances in Optical Technologies
 (2010)

---

## Abstract

For a complete and lucid discussion of quantum correlation, we introduced two new first-order correlation tensors defined as linear combinations of the general coherence tensors of the quantized fields and derived the associated coherence potentials governing the propagation of quantum correlation. On the basis of these quantum optical coherence tensors, we further introduced new concepts of scalar, vector and tensor densities and presented some related properties, such as conservation laws and the wave-particle duality for quantum correlation, which provide new insights into photon statistics and quantum correlation.


---

## Body

## 1. Introduction

Fields interact with atoms in a fundamentally random or stochastic way. As a consequence, statistical interpretation of the outcome of most optical experiments becomes indispensable due to the fact that any measurement of light is accompanied by certain unavoidable fluctuations [1, 2]. Among various descriptions of the statistical properties of light, correlation between the fields at different space-time points, known as the correlation function, has long been recognized as the most fundamental physical quantity that plays a crucial role in photon correlations. The concept of optical correlation, first introduced by Wolf, has laid a foundation on which many important problems in classical statistical optics can be treated in a unified way. Also worth special mention is the quantum theory of optical coherence created by Glauber [3–5], who took a quantum electrodynamics approach to the problems of photon statistics. Because of its theoretical and practical importance, coherence theory and quantum optics have developed into a challenging multifarious field of research.In quantum optics, detection of photons based on the absorption of photons via the photoelectric effect constitutes the basis of the measurements of the optical field. Photon statistics and quantum correlations have been studied extensively. However, the discussions in most of papers are restricted to the correlations between the same kinds of fields (either between electric fieldsE  themselves or between magnetic fields H  themselves) at different space-time points, and the mixed correlation between electric field and magnetic field, introduced by Mehta and Wolf [6], seems to have received less attention in spite of its importance. Although the quantum theory for the correlations between the same kind of fields has already been established and is indeed informative, this alone cannot constitute a self-consistent theoretical framework for the full description of the coherence properties of the quantum electromagnetic fields. The need for a more self-contained quantum correlation theory involving the EH-mixed correlations has motivated us to take a fully quantum electrodynamics approach to the problems of quantum correlations.In this paper, we will introduce, for the first time, two second-order correlation tensors:𝔼jk(x1,t1;x2,t2)  and 𝕊jk(x1,t1;x2,t2)  for the complete and lucid description of quantum correlation on the basis of the quantized field theory. In formal analogy to the energy conservation, momentum conservation, and angular momentum laws for vector fields in classical electromagnetism, some new densities derived from 𝔼jk  and 𝕊jk  are introduced to quantum correlation theory and are related by new continuity equations, which indicate new conservation laws in quantum correlation theory. In terms of Fock states and coherent states, we will represent the newly introduced densities and reveal the nature of the wave-particle duality for the quantum correlation.


## 2. Quantum Coherence Tensors

To fully characterize the correlations involving all the components of the electromagnetic fields at any space-time points, more general coherence matrices are needed. In addition to Glauber’sE-only correlation tensor [3–5], other first-order magnetic H-correlation and EH mixed-correlation tensors have been defined by Mehta and Wolf [6], namely, (1)Ejk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Tr{ρ̂Êj(-)(x1,t1)Êk(+)(x2,t2)},Hjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Tr{ρ̂Ĥj(-)(x1,t1)Ĥk(+)(x2,t2)},Mjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Tr{ρ̂Êj(-)(x1,t1)Ĥk(+)(x2,t2)},Njk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Tr{ρ̂Ĥj(-)(x1,t1)Êk(+)(x2,t2)},
where ρ̂  is the density operator describing the field, the symbol Tr{⋯}  stands for the trace operation, the indices (j,k=1,2,3) label Cartesian components: (x̂,ŷ,ẑ), and we have already separated the electromagnetic field operators into their positive-frequency parts Ê(+) and Ĥ(+) and their negative-frequency parts Ê(-) and Ĥ(-), respectively.Since the electric and magnetic field operators are related by Maxwell’s equations in free space, their corresponding negative frequency operatorsÊ(-) and Ĥ(-)  can also be expressed in the tensor form as(2)εjkl∂k1Êl(-)(x1,t1)+1c∂∂t1Ĥj(-)(x1,t1)=0,(3)εjkl∂k1Ĥl(-)(x1,t1)-1c∂∂t1Êj(-)(x1,t1)=0,(4)∂j1Êj(-)(x1,t1)=0,(5)∂j1Ĥj(-)(x1,t1)=0,
where c  indicates the speed of light, εjkl  is the unit tensor of Levi-Civita with antisymmetry, ∂j1 and ∂/∂t1  are the differential operations to be performed with respect to the point x1  and t1, and Einstein’s summation convention has been employed. One of the essential aspects in which quantum field theory differs from classical theory is that two values of the field operators taken at different space-time points do not, in general, commute with one another. After multiplying both sides of (2) by Êm(+)(x2,t2)  and placing it under the operator signs, we obtain the relation(6)εjkl∂k1Êl(-)(x1,t1)Êm(+)(x2,t2)+1c∂∂t1Ĥj(-)(x1,t1)Êm(+)(x2,t2)=0.
If we take the quantum average of (6) and interchange the order of the quantum average and differential operations, from the definition of coherence tensor in (1), we have(7)εjkl∂k1Elm+1c∂∂t1Njm=0.
If we apply the same procedure, we obtain(8)εjkl∂k1Mlm+1c∂∂t1Hjm=0,(9)εjkl∂k1Nlm-1c∂∂t1Ejm=0,(10)εjkl∂k1Hlm-1c∂∂t1Mjm=0.
In a similar manner, the divergence condition yields the following equations:(11)∂j1Ejk=0,(12)∂j1Hjk=0,(13)∂j1Mjk=0,(14)∂j1Njk=0.
After adding (7) to (10), and subtracting (9) from (8), we obtain two equations, respectively: (15)εjkl∂k1𝔼lm-1c∂∂t1𝕊jm=0,(16)εjkl∂k1𝕊lm+1c∂∂t1𝔼jm=0,
where (17)𝔼jk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Ejk(x1,t1;x2,t2)+Hjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Tr{ρ̂[Êj(-)(x1,t1)Êk(+)(x2,t2)+Ĥj(-)(x1,t1)Ĥk(+)(x2,t2)]},(18)𝕊jk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Mjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)-Njk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=Tr{ρ̂[Êj(-)(x1,t1)Ĥk(+)(x2,t2)-Ĥj(-)(x1,t1)Êk(+)(x2,t2)]}.The tensor𝔼jk  may be called the quantum energy coherence tensor and 𝕊jk the quantum energy-flow coherence tensor, which have formal resemblance to those of the classical theory [7]. Moreover, from (11) and (12), or from (13) and (14), one has(19)∂j1𝔼jk=0,(20)∂j1𝕊jk=0.The equations (15)-(16) and (19)-(20) are basic equations for the propagation of the energy coherence tensor and the energy-flow coherence tensor in free space. Another set of similar equations, which involve r2 and t2, can also be derived in a similar way.So far we have derived the governing equations for the correlations between all the components of the quantum electromagnetic fields at any space-time points. In order to understand the importance of the newly introduced quantum energy and energy-flow coherence tensors, let us discuss the photoelectric detection of the optical field within the quantum mechanical interaction picture. In most of optical experiments, measurements of the electromagnetic field are based on the absorption of photons (energy) via the photoelectric effect. Based on a heuristic argument, Glauber has given the expression for the average counting rate of an ideal photodetection [4], which is proportional to Tr{ρ̂Êj(-)(x,t)Êj(+)(x,t)}. It is important to note here that photon absorption by an ideal detector measures the average value of the Hamiltonian of the quantized radiation field:  Ê(-)·Ê(+)+Ĥ(-)·Ĥ(+), and not that of Ê(-)·Ê(+). One should note that the energies of electric field and magnetic field are indistinguishable in photon absorption process in the detector. Therefore, the probability per unit time that a photon be absorbed by an ideal detector at point x  at time t  should be proportional to the expectation value of the normally ordered operator Êj(-)(x,t)Êj(+)(x,t)+Ĥj(-)(x,t)Ĥj(+)(x,t).Meanwhile, due to the well-known fact that electromagnetic radiation carries both energy and momentum, any interaction between photons and matters for the exchange of energy will inevitably involve the exchange of momentum. Just as Poynting vector in the classical electromagnetic field, whereS∝E*×H+E×H*=E*×H-H*×E, it is convenient to introduce the notion of energy flow operator, defined by (21)Ŝ(x,t)=Ê(-)(x,t)×Ĥ(+)(x,t)-Ĥ(-)(x,t)×Ê(+)(x,t).
The operator Ŝ  so defined is of course the energy flow associated with the photon absorption in light of the optical equivalence theorem [8, 9]. Therefore, the average value for the i component of the detected momentum should be proportional to(22)Tr{ρ̂εijk[Êj(-)(x,t)Ĥk(+)(x,t)-Ĥj(-)(x,t)Êk(+)(x,t)]},
which is the expectation value of the operator Ŝ  with normal ordering.Recording the energy and energy flow of photons with a single detector does not exhaust the available measurements we can make upon the field. In the more general expression, the fieldsÊ(-), Ê(+), Ĥ(-), and Ĥ(+) are evaluated at the different space-time points. Therefore, these tensors 𝔼jk  and 𝕊jk  furnish a general measure of quantum optical correlations involving all the components of the electromagnetic field at any space-time points and give the field intensity (which is proportional to the counting rate of the detector) and energy flow vector (which is proportional to the kinetic momentum of light) as the special case for x1=x2  and t1=t2. One should be aware of the facts that energy transition is always associated with momentum changes in photon absorption process, and the energies of electric field and magnetic field are indistinguishable in the ideal photodetector. It is the indistinguishability that makes the introduction of 𝔼jk and 𝕊jk  meaningful for the better definition of photon-delayed coincidences on the basis of the general first-order coherence tensors.


## 3. Coherence Tensor and Vector Potentials

Borrowing from the general potential theory [10], we can also introduce a new concept of the coherence tensor potential𝔸lm  from which the energy coherence tensor 𝔼jk  can be obtained as(23)𝔼jm(x1,t1;x2,t2)=εjkl∂k1𝔸lm(x1,t1;x2,t2),
since the divergence of the curl of any tensor is zero, namely,(24)∂j1(εjkl∂k1𝔸lm)=εjkl∂j1∂k1𝔸lm=-εkjl∂j1∂k1𝔸lm=-εjkl∂j1∂k1𝔸lm=0.
If we substitute from (24) into (16), we have(25)εjkl∂k1(𝕊lm+1c∂∂t1𝔸lm)=0.
Equation (25) will hold if(26)𝕊lm(x1,t1;x2,t2)=-1c∂∂t1𝔸lm(x1,t1;x2,t2)-∂l1am(x1,t1;x2,t2),
where am  is coherence vector potential. 𝔸lm  and am  must now be determined in such a way as to satisfy the remaining Maxwell equations. Let us maintain the following gauge transform relation between 𝔸lm  and am: (27)∂l1𝔸lm+1c∂∂t1am=0.
Substituting (26) into (20), and making use of the gauge transform in (27), we can easily find that the coherence vector potential satisfies the wave equation:(28)∇12am-1c2∂2∂t12am=0.
Similarly, substituting (23) and (27) into (15), we have(29)∇12𝔸jm-1c2∂2∂t12𝔸jm=0,
which indicates the wave equations governing the propagation of the coherence tensor potential. It should be noted that the proposed coherence tensor and vector potentials have some similar mathematical behavior with the usual vector and dual potentials [11, 12], but the underlying physics is completely different. The key point of the proposed coherence potentials is to govern propagation of quantum correlation, whereas the usual vector and dual potentials are developed for the description of the electromagnetic wave in nonlinear dielectric media. The significance of the coherence tensor and vector potentials can be explained as follows. Just as the vector and scalar potentials play a more fundamental role in quantum electrodynamics than the electromagnetic fields themselves [13], the newly introduced coherence tensor potential and coherence vector potential are expected to play a more fundamental role in the descriptions of the quantum correlation and entanglement than the energy coherence tensor and the energy-flow coherence tensor.


## 4. Conservation Law of Quantum-Correlation-Function Energy

Noting the formal analogy to Maxwell’s equations in free space, we can introduce some concepts to characterize the spatiotemporal evolution of the energy coherence tensor and the energy-flow coherence tensor. Borrowed from scalar theory in classical wavefields, an energy-flow-density-like quantity has been defined and observed experimentally when a generic coherence vortex is reported [14, 15]. Under the framework of classical scalar coherence theory, the associated conservation law has been deduced. However, with the optical equivalence theorem for normally order operators [8, 9] as a clue, it is possible to extend this concept so as to take into account the vectorial character of light to formulate much rigorous laws for quantum optics.Let us now take the complex conjugate of (15) and multiply by 𝕊jm. We then obtain (30)εjkl𝕊jm∂k1𝔼lm*-1c𝕊jm∂∂t1𝕊jm*=0.
If we add (30) with its complex conjugate, we have (31)1c∂∂t1(𝕊jm*𝕊jm)-εjkl(𝕊jm*∂k1𝔼lm+𝕊jm∂k1𝔼lm*)=0.
If we make use of relation εjkl=-εlkj and interchange the dummy sufficesj and m, we have(32)1c∂∂t1(𝕊jm*𝕊jm)+εjkl(𝕊lm*∂k1𝔼jm+𝕊lm∂k1𝔼jm*)=0.
In a similar way, we obtain from (16) (33)1c∂∂t1(𝔼jm*𝔼jm)+εjkl(𝔼jm*∂k1𝕊lm+𝔼jm∂k1𝕊lm*)=0.
After adding (32) to (33), we readily obtain(34)∂∂t1W(x1,t1;x2,t2)+∂k1Tk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=0,
where (35)W(x1,t1;x2,t2)=𝔼jm*𝔼jm+𝕊jm*𝕊jm,(36)Tk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=cεklj(𝕊lm𝔼jm*+𝕊lm*𝔼jm).
Apart from a constant factor, (34) has a formal resemblance to that of the classical theory (see [7, Equation (3.5)]), while the physical meaning has received much less attention in the latter. From its formal analogy to energy conservation law in electromagnetism, we note that (34) is a continuity equation in which the scalar quantity W(x1,t1;x2,t2)  may be regarded as representing an energy-density-like quantity of quantum correlation (which we term the quantum-correlation-function energy density) and the vector quantity T(x1,t1;x2,t2) as representing a flow-density-like quantity of quantum correlation (which we term the quantum-correlation-function flow density). Just as the magnitude and the direction of the Poynting vector represent, respectively, the field intensity and the direction of light energy flow in classic optics, the magnitude and the direction of the quantum-correlation-function flow density vector T(x1,t1;x2,t2)  give, respectively, a measure of the intensity of quantum correlation and the direction of the quantum correlation flow. If we integrate (34) throughout a volume V  bounded by a closed surface S  and apply Gauss’ theorem, we have(37)ddt1∭VW(x1,t1;x2,t2)d3x1+∬ST(x1,t1;x2,t2)·nd2x1=0,
where n  denotes the unit outward normal to S. Equation (37) may be given the following interpretation. The rate of increase (or decrease) of the quantum-correlation-function energy contained in V is equal to the rate at which the quantum-correlation-function energy enters (or leaves) V through the boundary S via the quantum-correlation-function flow. With this interpretation (34) expresses the conservation law ofquantum-correlation-function energy, which may be regarded as natural generalizations of those obtained on the basis of classical scalar coherence theory [15].


## 5. Conservation Law of Quantum-Correlation-Function Momemtum

Now, let us consider a new law on the conservation of a momentum-like quantity in quantum correlation theory. If we take the complex conjugate of (15) and multiply by εinj𝔼nm and make use of tensor identity εjklεinj=εkljεinj=δkiδln-δknδli  (where δki  is equal to zero if k≠i, and equal to unity if k=i ), we then obtain(38)-𝔼nm∂i1𝔼nm*+𝔼nm∂n1𝔼im*+𝔼im*∂n1𝔼nm+1cεinj𝔼nm∂∂t1𝕊jm*=0,
where the use has been made of the divergence-free condition in (19). Similarly, if we apply the similar operation to (16) and use the tensor identity, we have(39)-𝕊nm∂i1𝕊nm*+𝕊nm∂n1𝕊im*+𝕊im*∂n1𝕊nm+1cεinj𝕊jm∂∂t1𝔼nm*=0,
where the use has also been made of the divergence-free condition in (20). Let us add (38) and its complex conjugate to (39) and its complex conjugate; we finally arrive at (40)∂∂t1𝕋i(x1,t1;x2,t2)+∂k1𝕎ki(x1,t1;x2,t2)=0,
where (41)𝕋i=Tic2=1cεikj(𝕊km𝔼jm*+𝕊km*𝔼jm),(42)𝕎ki=(𝔼km𝔼im*+𝔼km*𝔼im)-δki(𝔼km𝔼km*)+(𝕊km𝕊im*+𝕊km*𝕊im)-δki(𝕊km𝕊km*).
If we integrate (40) throughout the volume V  bounded by a closed surface S  and apply Gauss’ theorem in the tensor form, we have(43)ddt1∭V𝕋i(x1,t1;x2,t2)d3x1+∬S𝕎ki(x1,t1;x2,t2)nkd2x1=0,
where nk  is the k  component of unit outward normal vector n. From its formal analogy to momentum conservation law in electromagnetism, we interpret the vector 𝕋(x1,t1;x2,t2)  as a momentum-density-like quantity of quantum correlation (which we term the quantum-correlation-function momentum density). Furthermore, the symmetric tensor 𝕎ki(x1,t1;x2,t2)  may be regarded as a Maxwell-stress-tensor-like quantity of quantum correlation (which we term thequantum-correlation-function stress tensor), representing the flux of the kth component of the quantum-correlation-function momentum in the ith direction. Hence, the above equation states that the rate of gain (or loss) of quantum-correlation-function momentum in the closed volume is equal to the flux of quantum-correlation-function momentum flowing into (or out of) the volume across the bounding surface. With this interpretation, (40) expresses the conservation law of quantum-correlation-function momentum, which bears a striking resemblance to the classical one [16, 17].


## 6. Relation between Energy and Momentum in Quantum Correlation Function

Borrowing from the classical optics [18], we can introduce some geometrical concepts to represent the quantum-correlation-function flow. Let us consider the propagation of the quantum correlation function with a speed c  through an area S  normal to the direction of propagation. During a very small interval of time Δt, only the quantum-correlation-function energy contained in the cylindrical volume, (cΔtS)W, will flow across S. We now make the reasonable assumption (for vacuum) that the quantum-correlation-function flow is in the direction of propagation of the quantum correlation. The magnitude of the corresponding quantum-correlation-function flow is then(44)|T|=cΔtSWΔtS=cW.
Since 𝕋c2=T (in (41)), we can express the quantum-correlation-function energy in terms of the magnitude of the quantum-correlation-function momentum, namely,(45)W=c|𝕋|.
Notice, from (45), that if some amount of quantum-correlation-function energy W  is transported per square meter per second, then there will be a corresponding quantum-correlation-function momentum W/c  transported per square meter per second. Thus, the mathematical relation between the energy and momentum in quantum correlation function is essentially identical to the energy- momentum relation in classical electrodynamics.


## 7. Conservation of Quantum-Correlation-Function Angular Momentum

Finally, we remark that the quantum-correlation-function angular momentum in quantum theory of optical coherence can also be treated in a similar way. The angular momentum density associated with the correlation tensors of the quantized field is given by(46)𝕃m(x1,t1;x2,t2)=εmjixj𝕋i(x1,t1;x2,t2),
where 𝕋i  is the quantum-correlation-function momentum density discussed above. The flux of angular momentum density in quantum correlation function is given by(47)𝕄mk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=εmjixj𝕎ik(x1,t1;x2,t2),
where 𝕎ki is the quantum-correlation-function stress tensor given above. Conservation of angular momentum in quantum correlation function is also expressed by (48)∂∂t1𝕃m(x1,t1;x2,t2)+∂k1𝕄mk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=0,
which again bears the close analogy to the classical theories of coherence [17].


## 8. Specific Examples and Physical Interpretations

So far, on the basis of the theory of the quantized electromagnetic field, we have introduced some vector and tensor densities to the quantum theory of optical coherence and have developed a very close analogy between the quantum mechanical and classical theories of coherence. To offer much more penetrating insights into the role played by quantum-correlation-function conservations in the description of the coherence properties of the quantized field, we will carry out mathematical development through the use of some particular sets of quantum states. Without loss of generality, the expansion for the vector potential of the quantized multimode electromagnetic field with its linear polarization along thex̂ -direction takes the form (49)Âx(z,t)=cL3/2∑m[ℏ(2ωm)]1/2×{âmexp[iωm(zc-t)]+h.c.},
where ωm  is the angular frequency of the mth mode, L  is the side length of a cubical volume, and h.c.  stands for the Hermitian conjugate of the preceding term. From the expansions for the vector potential Â  of the electromagnetic filed, the electric and magnetic field operators Ê  and Ĥ  can therefore be written as(50)Êx(z,t)=Ĥy(z,t)=iL3/2∑m(ℏωm2)1/2×{âmexp[iωm(zc-t)]+h.c.}.By inserting the operators of the quantized fieldsÊ  and Ĥ  into the definition for energy coherence tensor 𝔼jk  and the energy-flow coherence tensor 𝕊jk, we can evaluate the proposed quantum-correlation-function energy W and quantum-correlation-function momentum 𝕋  at some particular set of quantum states of the field.


### 8.1. Quantum Correlation Function in Fock States

As a first example, consider a multimode of the electromagnetic field in an eigenstate of Fock states (photon number states). After calculating theE-only correlation tensor, H-only correlation tensor, and EH mixed-correlation tensors from (1), we have(51)Exx=Hyy=Mxy=Nyx=ℏ2L3∑m{ωm〈nm〉exp[iωm(z2c-t2-z1c+t1)]}=ℏ2L3∑mϕm,
where Tr{ρ̂âm†âm}=〈nm〉 is the average photon number of the mth mode, and we have put for short ϕm=ωm〈nm〉exp[iωm(z2/c-t2-z1/c+t1)]. Substituting from (51) into (17)-(18), we obtain(52)𝔼=(ℏ2L3∑mϕm000ℏ2L3∑mϕm0000),(53)𝕊=(0ℏ2L3∑mϕm0-ℏ2L3∑mϕm00000).
Apart from a constant factor, the elements of the energy and energy flow coherence tensors are represented as the sum of many elementary phasor contributions ϕm. Thus, the density of quantum-correlation-function energy is proportional to the square of the absolute value of this sum. After substituting (52)-(53) into (35), we have(54)W=4(ℏ2L3∑mϕm)(ℏ2L3∑mϕm)*=ℏ2L6|∑mϕm|2.
Equation (54) evidently introduces the phenomenon of interference into the scheme of the quantum theory of optical coherence. After straightforward algebra, the quantum-correlation-function energy is readily shown to be(55)W=ℏ2L6{∑mωm2〈nm〉2+2∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉×cos[(ωm-ωl)(z2/c-t2-z1/c+t1)]∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉cos}.
It is immediately seen from (55) that the density of quantum-correlation-function energy will depend on the two spatiotemporal variables only through their difference and has both particle and wave manifestations. For the single-point correlation function, where z1=z2,t1=t2, we have (56)W=1L6[∑m(〈nm〉ℏωm)]2.
Thus the quantum-correlation-function energy density is discrete with particle behavior. Meanwhile, the quantum-correlation-function energy density has uniform distribution for all the spatiotemporal position. Meanwhile, the quantum-correlation-function energy density exhibits wave-like features for the two-point correlation in photon delayed coincidence. With this interpretation, (55) expresses the simultaneous wave-particle duality of quantum-correlation-function energy density. The dynamical behavior of the quantum correlation is governed by the total quantum-correlation-function energy that takes the form(57)𝒲=∫VW(x1,t1;x2,t2)d3x1=1L3∑mℏ2ωm2〈nm〉2.
Similarly, with the use of (52)-(53) for the expressions of the quantum energy and energy flow coherence tensor, the quantum-correlation-function momentum vector density has only ẑ -direction component:(58)𝕋z=ℏ2cL6{∑mωm2〈nm〉2+2∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉×cos[(ωm-ωl)(z2c-t2-z1c+t1)]∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉}.
As expected, the quantum-correlation-function momentum also exhibits the wave-particle duality. Then, the total quantum-correlation function momentum within the cubical volume is (59)𝒯z=∫V𝕋z(x1,t1;x2,t2)d3x1=1cL3∑mℏ2ωm2〈nm〉2.
From the formal analogy to the concept of single photon in quantum optics, we may envision the quantum correlation of a single mode carrying a discrete quantum-correlation-function energy 𝒲=〈n〉2ℏ2ω2/L3 with a quantum-correlation-function momentum 𝒯z=𝒲/c=〈n〉2ℏ2ω2/(cL3).In light of the wave-particle duality of quantum physics, it is natural for the photon to carry the properties of both waves and of particles. Owing the Wolf [19], it has been known since 1955 that the optical coherence exhibits wave properties since the coherence function obeys a couple of wave equations. Here, it is interesting to note that, besides wave properties, the quantum correlation function also has particle nature since the correlations between the discrete photons (photon correlations) play the essential role in the quantum theory of optical coherence.


### 8.2. Quantum Correlation in Coherent States

In quantum optics, it is also common practice to describe the state of the photon field in terms of coherent states [4, 5]. As stressed by Glauber, one of the important properties for the coherent states is that the correlation functions can be factorized if the field is in coherent state. Therefore, the first-order correlation functions reduce to the factorized forms:(60)Ejk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℰj*(x1,t1)ℰk(x2,t2),Hjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℋj*(x1,t1)ℋk(x2,t2),Mjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℰj*(x1,t1)ℋk(x2,t2),Njk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℋj*(x1,t1)ℰk(x2,t2),
in which the functions ℰ(x,t), and ℋ(x,t) and their corresponding complex conjugates play the role of the eigenvalue and satisfy the Maxwell equations. According to (50), the eigenvalue functions ℰj(x,t)  and ℋj(x,t)  are thus given by(61)ℰx(z,t)=ℋy(z,t)=iL3/2∑m(ℏωm2)1/2αmexp[iωm(zc-t)],
where αm  is eigenvalue of the annihilation operator âm, that is, âm|αm〉=αm|αm〉. As we readily see, the energy and energy flow coherence tensors of the quantized field satisfy(62)𝔼=(ℰx*(z1,t1)ℰx(z2,t2)000ℋy*(z1,t1)ℋy(z2,t2)0000),𝕊=(0ℰx*(z1,t1)ℋy(z2,t2)0-ℋy*(z1,t1)ℰx(z2,t2)00000).Using the results of (62), we find that(63)W=[|ℰx(z1,t1)|2+|ℋy(z1,t1)|2]×[|ℰx(z2,t2)|2+|ℋy(z2,t2)|2]=4|ℰx(z1,t1)|2·|ℰx(z2,t2)|2.Similarly, the quantum-correlation-function momentum density takes the form(64)𝕋z=2c-1Re{ℰx*(z1,t1)ℋy(z1,t1)}×[|ℰx(z2,t2)|2+|ℋy(z2,t2)|2]=4c-1|ℰx(z1,t1)|2·|ℰx(z2,t2)|2=Wc,
where Re{⋯} stands for the real part of the complex eigenvalue. After substituting (61) into (63)-(64), we see that the coherent state of a single mode has quantum-correlation-function energy 𝒲=(ℏω)2|α|4/L3 with quantum-correlation-function momentum 𝒯z=c(ℏk)2|α|4/L3.Up to now we have considered the conservation laws in the quantum correlation function based on the correlation tensors of first-order only. It should also be noted that the generalization to higher-order correlation tensors can also be derived in a similar way.Meanwhile, the proposed conservation laws in quantum correlation function may also provide an insight into other correlation phenomena in quantum mechanics. For example, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox draws on a phenomenon predicted by quantum mechanics, known as quantum entanglement, to show that measurements performed on spatially separated parts of a quantum system can apparently have an instantaneous influence on one another [20]. Since photons are emitted from a common source, correlations between these photons have already been established once an entangled state is created [21, 22]. In an entangled two-photon state, a measurement of one chosen variable of photon one will determine the outcome of a measurement of the corresponding variable of the other photons. No matter how far apart for these two photons, the proposed conservation laws always hold for this quantum system. It is these conservation laws for quantum correlation function that add an additional condition for the propagation of the separated photons in their entangled state when no influence resulting from one measurement can possibly propagate to the other photon in the available time. This may give the origin of the nonlocal behavior or spooky action at a distance for quantum mechanics.


## 8.1. Quantum Correlation Function in Fock States

As a first example, consider a multimode of the electromagnetic field in an eigenstate of Fock states (photon number states). After calculating theE-only correlation tensor, H-only correlation tensor, and EH mixed-correlation tensors from (1), we have(51)Exx=Hyy=Mxy=Nyx=ℏ2L3∑m{ωm〈nm〉exp[iωm(z2c-t2-z1c+t1)]}=ℏ2L3∑mϕm,
where Tr{ρ̂âm†âm}=〈nm〉 is the average photon number of the mth mode, and we have put for short ϕm=ωm〈nm〉exp[iωm(z2/c-t2-z1/c+t1)]. Substituting from (51) into (17)-(18), we obtain(52)𝔼=(ℏ2L3∑mϕm000ℏ2L3∑mϕm0000),(53)𝕊=(0ℏ2L3∑mϕm0-ℏ2L3∑mϕm00000).
Apart from a constant factor, the elements of the energy and energy flow coherence tensors are represented as the sum of many elementary phasor contributions ϕm. Thus, the density of quantum-correlation-function energy is proportional to the square of the absolute value of this sum. After substituting (52)-(53) into (35), we have(54)W=4(ℏ2L3∑mϕm)(ℏ2L3∑mϕm)*=ℏ2L6|∑mϕm|2.
Equation (54) evidently introduces the phenomenon of interference into the scheme of the quantum theory of optical coherence. After straightforward algebra, the quantum-correlation-function energy is readily shown to be(55)W=ℏ2L6{∑mωm2〈nm〉2+2∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉×cos[(ωm-ωl)(z2/c-t2-z1/c+t1)]∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉cos}.
It is immediately seen from (55) that the density of quantum-correlation-function energy will depend on the two spatiotemporal variables only through their difference and has both particle and wave manifestations. For the single-point correlation function, where z1=z2,t1=t2, we have (56)W=1L6[∑m(〈nm〉ℏωm)]2.
Thus the quantum-correlation-function energy density is discrete with particle behavior. Meanwhile, the quantum-correlation-function energy density has uniform distribution for all the spatiotemporal position. Meanwhile, the quantum-correlation-function energy density exhibits wave-like features for the two-point correlation in photon delayed coincidence. With this interpretation, (55) expresses the simultaneous wave-particle duality of quantum-correlation-function energy density. The dynamical behavior of the quantum correlation is governed by the total quantum-correlation-function energy that takes the form(57)𝒲=∫VW(x1,t1;x2,t2)d3x1=1L3∑mℏ2ωm2〈nm〉2.
Similarly, with the use of (52)-(53) for the expressions of the quantum energy and energy flow coherence tensor, the quantum-correlation-function momentum vector density has only ẑ -direction component:(58)𝕋z=ℏ2cL6{∑mωm2〈nm〉2+2∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉×cos[(ωm-ωl)(z2c-t2-z1c+t1)]∑m∑l≠mωmωl〈nm〉〈nl〉}.
As expected, the quantum-correlation-function momentum also exhibits the wave-particle duality. Then, the total quantum-correlation function momentum within the cubical volume is (59)𝒯z=∫V𝕋z(x1,t1;x2,t2)d3x1=1cL3∑mℏ2ωm2〈nm〉2.
From the formal analogy to the concept of single photon in quantum optics, we may envision the quantum correlation of a single mode carrying a discrete quantum-correlation-function energy 𝒲=〈n〉2ℏ2ω2/L3 with a quantum-correlation-function momentum 𝒯z=𝒲/c=〈n〉2ℏ2ω2/(cL3).In light of the wave-particle duality of quantum physics, it is natural for the photon to carry the properties of both waves and of particles. Owing the Wolf [19], it has been known since 1955 that the optical coherence exhibits wave properties since the coherence function obeys a couple of wave equations. Here, it is interesting to note that, besides wave properties, the quantum correlation function also has particle nature since the correlations between the discrete photons (photon correlations) play the essential role in the quantum theory of optical coherence.


## 8.2. Quantum Correlation in Coherent States

In quantum optics, it is also common practice to describe the state of the photon field in terms of coherent states [4, 5]. As stressed by Glauber, one of the important properties for the coherent states is that the correlation functions can be factorized if the field is in coherent state. Therefore, the first-order correlation functions reduce to the factorized forms:(60)Ejk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℰj*(x1,t1)ℰk(x2,t2),Hjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℋj*(x1,t1)ℋk(x2,t2),Mjk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℰj*(x1,t1)ℋk(x2,t2),Njk(x1,t1;x2,t2)=ℋj*(x1,t1)ℰk(x2,t2),
in which the functions ℰ(x,t), and ℋ(x,t) and their corresponding complex conjugates play the role of the eigenvalue and satisfy the Maxwell equations. According to (50), the eigenvalue functions ℰj(x,t)  and ℋj(x,t)  are thus given by(61)ℰx(z,t)=ℋy(z,t)=iL3/2∑m(ℏωm2)1/2αmexp[iωm(zc-t)],
where αm  is eigenvalue of the annihilation operator âm, that is, âm|αm〉=αm|αm〉. As we readily see, the energy and energy flow coherence tensors of the quantized field satisfy(62)𝔼=(ℰx*(z1,t1)ℰx(z2,t2)000ℋy*(z1,t1)ℋy(z2,t2)0000),𝕊=(0ℰx*(z1,t1)ℋy(z2,t2)0-ℋy*(z1,t1)ℰx(z2,t2)00000).Using the results of (62), we find that(63)W=[|ℰx(z1,t1)|2+|ℋy(z1,t1)|2]×[|ℰx(z2,t2)|2+|ℋy(z2,t2)|2]=4|ℰx(z1,t1)|2·|ℰx(z2,t2)|2.Similarly, the quantum-correlation-function momentum density takes the form(64)𝕋z=2c-1Re{ℰx*(z1,t1)ℋy(z1,t1)}×[|ℰx(z2,t2)|2+|ℋy(z2,t2)|2]=4c-1|ℰx(z1,t1)|2·|ℰx(z2,t2)|2=Wc,
where Re{⋯} stands for the real part of the complex eigenvalue. After substituting (61) into (63)-(64), we see that the coherent state of a single mode has quantum-correlation-function energy 𝒲=(ℏω)2|α|4/L3 with quantum-correlation-function momentum 𝒯z=c(ℏk)2|α|4/L3.Up to now we have considered the conservation laws in the quantum correlation function based on the correlation tensors of first-order only. It should also be noted that the generalization to higher-order correlation tensors can also be derived in a similar way.Meanwhile, the proposed conservation laws in quantum correlation function may also provide an insight into other correlation phenomena in quantum mechanics. For example, the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox draws on a phenomenon predicted by quantum mechanics, known as quantum entanglement, to show that measurements performed on spatially separated parts of a quantum system can apparently have an instantaneous influence on one another [20]. Since photons are emitted from a common source, correlations between these photons have already been established once an entangled state is created [21, 22]. In an entangled two-photon state, a measurement of one chosen variable of photon one will determine the outcome of a measurement of the corresponding variable of the other photons. No matter how far apart for these two photons, the proposed conservation laws always hold for this quantum system. It is these conservation laws for quantum correlation function that add an additional condition for the propagation of the separated photons in their entangled state when no influence resulting from one measurement can possibly propagate to the other photon in the available time. This may give the origin of the nonlocal behavior or spooky action at a distance for quantum mechanics.


## 9. Conclusion

In summary, we have derived the expressions for energy coherence tensor and the energy-flow coherence tensor on the basis of quantum field theory, which provides new insights into photon statistics and quantum correlation. In terms of a electromagnetic model, we have introduced new quantities to quantum theory of optical coherence based on newly defined quantum optical coherence tensors and have related them by continuity equations, giving new conservation laws in quantum correlation function. Furthermore, we have theoretically investigated the propagation of quantum correlation function, which establishes a new relationship between the photon correlation and quantum electrodynamics and reveals the wave-particle duality of quantum correlation. Further exploration in this direction may lead to a new field in quantum optics that may be referred to asQuantum Correlation Dynamics.



---

*Source: 171254-2010-06-22.xml*