Wave-Packet Model and Mach-Zehnder-Type Interferometers

We present a clear description of the behavior of the Mach-Zehnder-type interferometers by the use of the wave-packet model. Two applications are proposed of the single photon counting and photon correlation technics to characterize ultrashort laser pulses or X-ray pulses measuring their coherence, spectral and temporal characteristics. Higher order correlation — measured by the photon coincidence technics — is dealt to recover the temporal profile of pulses. The relation of the method to the classical treatment is demonstrated.