Measurement of photon statistics with live photoreceptor cells.

Phys Rev Lett

Data Storage Institute, Agency for Science Technology and Research, 117608 Singapore.

Published: September 2012

We analyzed the electrophysiological response of an isolated rod photoreceptor of Xenopus laevis under stimulation by coherent and pseudothermal light sources. Using the suction-electrode technique for single cell recordings and a fiber optics setup for light delivery allowed measurements of the major statistical characteristics of the rod response. The results indicate differences in average responses of rod cells to coherent and pseudothermal light of the same intensity and also differences in signal-to-noise ratios and second-order intensity correlation functions. These findings should be relevant for interdisciplinary studies seeking applications of quantum optics in biology.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.113601DOI Listing

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