Photon statistics characterization of a single photon source

n a recent experiment, we reported the time-domain intensity noise measurement of a single photon source relying on single molecule fluorescence control. In this article we present data processing, starting from photocount timestamps. The theoretical analytical expression of the time-dependent Mandel parameter Q(T) of an intermittent single photon source is derived from ON<->OFF dynamics . Finally, source intensity noise analysis using the Mandel parameter is quantitatively compared to the usual approach relying on the time autocorrelation function, both methods yielding the same molecular dynamical parameters.