Normally ordered density correlation ($C^{(n)}=⟨{\psi }_1^{†}\cdots {\psi }_n^{†}{\psi }_n\cdots {\psi }_1⟩$)

This correlation counts distinct detection events without the delta-function self-counting term in an un-ordered product of densities. It is nonnegative as the expectation of $A^{†}A$ with $A={\psi }_n\cdots {\psi }_1$. For a single occupied bosonic mode with sharp occupation $N$, the coincident $n$-point value contains the falling factorial $N(N-1)\cdots (N-n+1)$, rather than $N^n$.

A single-component chaotic Gaussian bosonic field has normalized coincident normally ordered correlation $n!$: every pairing contributes the same product of densities. A same-component fermionic field instead has zero coincident correlations for $n\ge 2$ by exclusion. These are state-dependent statements: a coherent bosonic field has factor one, and a single-mode number state has $N^{\underline{n}}/N^n$. Ratios to distant unnormalized correlations additionally require the compared densities to agree and distant correlations to factorize.

For a number-conserving Gaussian pairing state, six permutations give this expression. Each transposition has sign $ϵ$, positive for bosons and negative for fermions; the two three-cycles have positive sign for either statistics. Equivalently it is the permanent or determinant of the three-by-three one-body density matrix. For bosonic number states, repeated-mode factorial corrections must be included instead of assuming that Wick theorem.

For a product of bosonic number states, direct and exchange contractions correctly count distinct modes. They overcount repeated-mode terms because $⟨a^{†2}{a}^2⟩=N(N-1)$, while Wick theorem would give $2N^2$. Subtracting the excess yields the displayed exact two-point correction. At higher order the occupation decrements carry falling factorials. This distinction is essential when comparing a fixed-number condensate with independent thermal modes.