Single-electron coherence: Finite temperature versus pure dephasing

• We investigate the coherence properties of mixed single-electron states.
• We clarify the difference between different types of mixedness.
• Temperature-induced mixedness suppresses a single-particle shot noise.
• Dephasing-induced mixedness hinders antibunching of two electrons.

We analyze a coherent injection of single electrons on top of the Fermi sea in two situations, at finite-temperature and in the presence of pure dephasing. Both finite-temperature and pure dephasing change the property of the injected quantum states from pure to mixed. However, we show that the temperature-induced mixedness does not alter the coherence properties of these single-electron states. In particular two such mixed states exhibit perfect antibunching while colliding at an electronic wave splitter. This is in striking difference with the dephasing-induced mixedness which suppresses antibunching. On the contrary, a single-particle shot noise is suppressed at finite temperatures but is not affected by pure dephasing. This work therefore extends the investigation of the coherence properties of single-electron states to the case of mixed states and clarifies the difference between different types of mixedness.