Sub-Poissonian photocurrent statistics:
theory and undergraduate experiment
A.C. Funk and M. Beck, American Journal of Physics, 6, 492-500, (1997).
Abstract
We present the results of an experiment
in which we observe a sub-Poissonian photocurrent. This photocurrent is
generated by detecting the light emitted from a high-quantum-efficiency
light-emitting diode driven by a high-impedance current source. We also present
classical, semi-classical and quantum mechanical theories of photoelectric detection.
The observed sub-Poissonian statistics are in agreement with quantum mechanical
predictions, but are unexplainable using the classical and semi-classical
theories. The experiment uses only equipment already found in most
undergraduate laboratories, making this a nice experiment to demonstrate a
purely quantum mechanical effect.