Accurate phase measurement with classical light

Abstract

In this paper we investigate whether it is in general possible to substitute maximally path-entangled states, namely NOON-states by classical light in a Doppleron-type resonant multiphoton detection processes by studying adaptive phase measurement with classical light. We show that multiphoton detection probability using classical light coincides with that of NOON-states and the multiphoton absorbtion rate is not hindered by the spatially unconstrained photons of the classical light in our scheme. We prove that the optimal phase variance with classical light can be achieved and scales the same as that using NOON-states.