Interference between independent single photons is perhaps the most fundamental interaction in quantum optics.
It has become increasingly important as a tool for optical quantum information science, as one of the rudimentary
quantum operations, together with photon detection, for generating entanglement between non-interacting particles.
Despite this, demonstrations of large-scale photonic networks involving more than two independent sources of quan-
tum light have been limited due to the difficulty in constructing large arrays of high-quality, single-photon sources.
Here, we solve the key challenge, reporting on a novel array of five near-identical, low-loss, high-purity, heralded
single-photon sources using spontaneous four-wave mixing on a silica chip. We verify source quality through a series
of heralded Hong
–
Ou
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Mandel (HOM) experiments, and further report the experimental three-photon extension of
the HOM interference effect, which maps out for the first time, to our knowledge, the interference landscape between
three independent single-photon sources.