quantum interference in bosonic and fermionic matter-wave amplification

Abstract

We investigate the quantum interference effects in two types of matter-wave mixing experiments: one with initial matter waves prepared in independent Fock states (type I) and the other with each individual particle prepared in a same coherent superposition of states (type II). In the type I experiment, a symmetric wavefunction of bosons leads to constructive quantum interference and shows final state stimulation, while an anti-symmetric wavefunction of fermions results in destructive quantum interference and inhibited matter wave mixing. In the type II experiment, a coherent superposition state leads to constructive quantum interference and enhanced matter wave mixing for both bosons and fermions, independent of their quantum statistics.