Bessel-type interference patterns detected in single photon regime

In this experiment, pseudonondiffracting Bessel-like intensity distributions were generated by refractive axicons at extremely weak illumination and detected by an electron multiplication CCD (EMCCD) camera (iXon, Andor) without an image intensifier. The successive growth of Bessel-like interference fringes from noise can clearly be recognized without image processing. The results of the interference experiment confirm the non-local quantum mechanical nature of single photon diffraction. In contrast to the Young's setup with a diffracting double slit, the interference from refracted beams was observed in the near-field instead of the far field.