  A reliable single photon source is a prerequisite for linear optical quantum
computation and for secure quantum key distribution. A criterion yielding a
conclusive test of the single photon character of a given source, attainable
with realistic detectors, is therefore highly desirable. In the context of
heralded single photon sources, such a criterion should be sensitive to the
effects of higher photon number contributions, and to vacuum introduced through
optical losses, which tend to degrade source performance. In this paper we
present, theoretically and experimentally, a criterion meeting the above
requirements.
