The realization of strong nonlinear interactions between individual light quanta (photons) is a long-standing goal in optical science and engineering, being of both fundamental and technological significance. In conventional optical materials, the nonlinearity at light powers corresponding to single photons is negligibly weak. Here we demonstrate a medium that is nonlinear at the level of individual quanta, exhibiting strong absorption of photon pairs while remaining transparent to single photons. The quantum nonlinearity is obtained by coherently coupling slowly propagating photons to strongly interacting atomic Rydberg states in a cold, dense atomic gas. Our approach paves the way for quantum-by-quantum control of light fields, including single-photon switching, all-optical deterministic quantum logic and the realization of strongly correlated many-body states of light.
Jonas Himmel, Max Ehrhardt, Matthias Heinrich
et al.
Abstract The transport of quantum states is a crucial aspect of information processing systems, facilitating operations such as quantum key distribution and inter-component communication within quantum computers. Most quantum networks rely on symmetries to achieve an efficient state transfer. A straightforward way to design such networks is to use spatial symmetries, which severely limits the design space. Our work takes a novel approach to designing photonic networks that do not exhibit any conventional spatial symmetries, yet nevertheless support an efficient transfer of quantum states. Paradoxically, while a perfect transfer efficiency is technically unattainable in these networks, a fidelity arbitrarily close to unity is always reached within a finite time of evolution. Key to this approach are so-called latent, or 'hidden', symmetries, which are embodied in the spectral properties of the network. Latent symmetries substantially expand the design space of quantum networks and hold significant potential for applications in quantum cryptography and secure state transfer. We experimentally realize such a nine-site latent-symmetric network and successfully observe state transfer between two sites with a measured fidelity of 75%. Furthermore, by launching a two-photon state, we show that quantum interference is preserved by the network. This demonstrates that the latent symmetries enable efficient quantum state transfer, while offering greater flexibility in designing quantum networks.
Kavalambramalil George Paulson, Hanna Terletska, Herbert F Fotso
We investigate how an external driving field can control the amount of extractable work from a quantum emitter, a two-level quantum system (TLS) interacting with a photonic environment. In this scenario, the TLS functions as a quantum battery, interacting with the photonic bath that discharges it while the control field recharges it. Ergotropy serves as our measure of the extractable work from the quantum system. We systematically analyze how the ergotropy of the system evolves as it interacts with the photonic bath under the control of either a continuous driving field or a periodic pulse sequence. The coherent and incoherent contributions to the total ergotropy for various initial states are calculated. The role of detuning between the driving field and the emission frequency of the TLS, as well as the initial state of the system in work extraction, are investigated for continuous and periodic pulse-driving fields. We show that detuning has little impact on work extraction for a system driven by a periodic sequence of instantaneous pulses. However, for a continuously driven system, as the system approaches its steady state, ergotropy increases with detuning increases.
We examine the cavity modes with a nonlinear crystal and a lambda-type three-level atom coupled to the squeezed vacuum reservoir. The expectation values of the cavity and atomic variables at steady state have been used to determine quadrature variances and logarithmic negativity. The cavity modes exhibit quadrature squeezing and entanglement according to the criteria. The existence of a nonlinear crystal in the cavity and squeezed vacuum reservoir coupling the cavity modes increases the degree of squeezing and entanglement. The coupling constant for atom and cavity modes reduces both the degree of squeezing and entanglement. Furthermore, Duan et al. and logarithmic negativity criteria for entanglement are directly proportional to the variance of the minus quadrature.
Optical cavities with moving mirrors provide a versatile platform for exploring radiation-matter interactions and optically mediated mechanical effects, whose control has wide technological implications. However, capturing the coupled dynamics of the electromagnetic field and of the mirror within a consistent theoretical framework remains challenging. We analyze the problem of the coupling between classical electromagnetic fields in a cavity and a movable mirror, considering both nonrelativistic and relativistic regimes of motion. Starting from the equations of motion for a mirror subject to a generic external potential, we provide a variational formulation of the mirror-radiation interaction. Within this framework, a single-mode variational approximation is introduced, which captures the essential dynamical features of the coupled system. In the special case of a mirror undergoing free motion, the variational method yields an exact solution. This unified treatment highlights the connection between different dynamical regimes and provides a basis for analyzing applications ranging from precision interferometry to relativistic radiation-pressure effects.
We report a novel stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy technique featuring phase-controlled light focusing and aberration corrections for rapid, deep tissue 3D chemical imaging with subcellular resolution. To accomplish phase-controlled SRS (PC-SRS), we utilize a single spatial light modulator to electronically tune the axial positioning of both the shortened-length Bessel pump and the focused Gaussian Stokes beams, enabling z-scanning-free optical sectioning in the sample. By incorporating Zernike polynomials into the phase patterns, we simultaneously correct the system aberrations at two separate wavelengths (~240 nm difference), achieving a ~3-fold enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio over the uncorrected imaging system. PC-SRS provides >2-fold improvement in imaging depth in various samples (e.g., polystyrene bead phantoms, porcine brain tissue) as well as achieves SRS 3D imaging speed of ~13 Hz per volume for real-time monitoring of Brownian motion of polymer beads in water, superior to conventional point-scanning SRS 3D imaging. We further utilize PC-SRS to observe the metabolic activities of the entire tumor liver in living zebrafish in cell-silent region, unraveling the upregulated metabolism in liver tumor compared to normal liver. This work shows that PC-SRS provides unprecedented insights into morpho-chemistry, metabolic and dynamic functioning of live cells and tissue in real-time at the subcellular level.
Detection of photons with energy below the bandgap or Schottky barrier height of silicon has been limited in the past. Here, we reveal an approach that harnesses hot carriers through diffusion over a very thin metal to achieve silicon-based mid-infrared detection. With strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect to enhance infrared absorption and diffusion across 10 nm metal in Schottky structure, the hot carriers can be effectively collected. Such mechanism leads to responsivity from 0.098 mA/W to 0.237 mA/W for the wavelengths between 2700 nm and 5300 nm, all corresponding to photon energy below Schottky barrier height. Our investigation further shows that inverted pyramidal structures could enhance LSPR and so the responsivity. In addition, this approach enables us to monitor high frequency optical signals up to 2.1 MHz. By harnessing hot carriers and enhancing LSPR, we have not only overcome previous limitations in silicon-based mid-infrared detection but also opened up new possibilities for advanced photonics and optoelectronics applications.
Daniel T. Cassidy, Philippe Pagnod-Rossiaux, Merwan Mokhtari
Notes on fits of analytic estimations, 2D finite element method (FEM), and 3D FEM simulations to measurements of the cathodoluminescence (CL) and to the degree of polarization (DOP) of the CL from the top surface of a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>100</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> GaAs substrate with a 6.22 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>m wide SiN stripe are presented. Three interesting features are found in the DOP of CL data. Presumably these features are noticeable owing to the spatial resolution of the CL measurement system. Comparisons of both strain and spatial resolutions obtained by CL and photoluminescence (PL) systems are presented. The width of the central feature in the measured DOP is less than the width of the SiN, as measured from the CL. This suggests horizontal cracks or de-laminations into each side of the SiN of about 0.7 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>m. In addition, it appears that deformed regions of widths of ≈1.5 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">μ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>m and adjacent to the SiN must exist to explain some of the features.
Optical beams and starlight distorted by atmospheric turbulence can be corrected with adaptive optics systems to enable efficient coupling into single-mode fibers. Deformable mirrors, used to flatten the wavefront in astronomical telescopes, are costly, sensitive, and complex mechanical components that require careful calibration to enable high-quality imaging in astronomy, microscopy, and vision science. They are also impractical to deploy in large numbers for non-imaging applications like free-space optical communication. Here, we propose a photonic integrated c rcuit capable of spatially sampling the wavefront collected by the telescope and co-phasing the subapertures to maximize the flux delivered to an output single-mode fiber as the integrated photonic implementation of a deformable mirror. We present the results of end-to-end simulations to quantify the performance of the proposed photonic solution under varying atmospheric conditions toward realizing an adaptive optics system without a deformable mirror for free-space optical receivers.
The full structuration of light in the transverse plane, including intensity, phase and polarization, holds the promise of unprecedented capabilities for applications in classical optics as well as in quantum optics and information sciences. Harnessing special topologies can lead to enhanced focusing, data multiplexing or advanced sensing and metrology. Here we experimentally demonstrate the storage of such spatio-polarization-patterned beams into an optical memory. A set of vectorial vortex modes is generated via liquid crystal cell with topological charge in the optic axis distribution, and preservation of the phase and polarization singularities is demonstrated after retrieval, at the single-photon level. The realized multiple-degree-of-freedom memory can find applications in classical data processing but also in quantum network scenarios where structured states have been shown to provide promising attributes, such as rotational invariance. Exploiting the full structuration of light fields for storing multiple degrees of freedom holds great promise for applications in classical and quantum optics. Here, the authors demonstrate the storage of spatio-polarization-patterned beams into an optical memory, and its retrieval at the single-photon level.
Sachleen Singh, Bereneice Sephton, Wagner Tavares Buono
et al.
Structured light, where complex optical fields are tailored in all their degrees of freedom, has become highly topical of late, advanced by a sophisticated toolkit comprising both linear and nonlinear optics. Removing undesired structure from light is far less developed, leveraging mostly on inverting the distortion, e.g., with adaptive optics or the inverse transmission matrix of a complex channel, both requiring that the distortion is fully characterised through appropriate measurement. Here we show that distortions in spatially structured light can be corrected through difference frequency generation in a nonlinear crystal without any need for the distortion to be known. We demonstrate the versatility of our approach by using a wide range of aberrations and structured light modes, including higher-order orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, showing excellent recovery of the original undistorted field. To highlight the efficacy of this process, we deploy the system in a prepare-and-measure communications link with OAM, showing minimal crosstalk even when the transmission channel is highly aberrated, and outline how the approach could be extended to alternative experimental modalities and nonlinear processes. Our demonstration of light correcting light without the need for measurement opens a new approach to measurement-free error correction for classical and quantum structured light, with direct applications in imaging, sensing and communication
Optical microcombs represent a new paradigm for generating laser frequency combs based on compact chip-scale devices, which have underpinned many modern technological advances for both fundamental science and industrial applications. Along with the surge in activity related to optical micro-combs in the past decade, their applications have also experienced rapid progress, not only in traditional fields such as frequency synthesis, signal processing, and optical communications, but also in new interdisciplinary fields spanning the frontiers of light detection and ranging (LiDAR), astronomical detection, neuromorphic computing, and quantum optics. This paper reviews the applications of optical microcombs. First, an overview of the devices and methods for generating optical microcombs is provided, which are categorized into material platforms, device architectures, soliton classes, and driving mechanisms. Second, the broad applications of optical microcombs are systematically reviewed, which are categorized into microwave photonics, optical communications, precision measurements, neuromorphic computing, and quantum optics. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives are discussed.
Photonic crystals (PhCs) influence the propagation of light by their periodic variation in dielectric contrast or refractive index. This review outlines the attractive optical qualities inherent to most PhCs namely the presence of full or partial photonic band gaps and the possibilities they present towards the inhibition of spontaneous emission and the localization of light. Colloidal self-assembly of polymer or silica spheres is one of the most favoured and low cost methods for the formation of PhCs as artificial opals. The state of the art in growth methods currently used for colloidal self-assembly are discussed and the use of these structures for the formation of inverse opal architectures is then presented. Inverse opal structures with their porous and interconnected architecture span several technological arenas – optics and optoelectronics, energy storage, communications, sensor and biological applications. This review presents several of these applications and an accessible overview of the physics of photonic crystal optics that may be useful for opal and inverse opal researchers in general, with a particular emphasis on the recent use of these three-dimensional porous structures in electrochemical energy storage technology. Progress towards all-optical integrated circuits may lie with the concepts of the photonic crystal, but the unique optical and structural properties of these materials and the convergence of PhC and energy storage disciplines may facilitate further developments and non-destructive optical analysis capabilities for (electro)chemical processes that occur within a wide variety of materials in energy storage research.
AbstractPlasma accelerators driven by high-power lasers can provide high-energy electron beams on a dramatically smaller scale than conventional radio-frequency accelerators. However, the performance of these accelerators is fundamentally limited by the diffraction of the laser. Laser-generated plasma waveguides can mitigate this problem and, combined with a controlled injection method for electrons, highlight the potential of novel laser-plasma optics.
Determining the homogeneity of material mixing in real time during product processing is critical for quality control. According to the Kubelka–Munk (K-M) function of diffuse reflectance absorption spectrum, absorbance (A) is approximately linear with the content of the components when the sample scattering coefficient (S) is in a certain range. The S is determined by the particle size of powder samples. Therefore, this study determined particle size ranges that satisfy linear additivity in near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (NIRDRS). Thus, the proposed NIRDRS analysis technique can be used to determine the homogeneity of material mixes or analyze the percentages of the components in the mixture. In this study, vitamin B3 and vitamin C were used for preparing mixed samples with varying percentages. The experimental results revealed that linear additivity is satisfied when the powder particle size is in the range of less than 280, 280–450, and 450–900 μm. When the confidence level is 0.01, the actual mixed spectra are not significantly different from the “simulated mixed spectra” constructed by linear addition, with their relative deviations less than 1.08%. The absolute errors of the actual and analytic percentages were within 2.98% for each component in the mixtures. The above conclusions also hold for sorghum, which has a complex material composition. Statistical models cannot analyze the percentages of components in the mixture. In contrast, linear addition and direct calibration approach avoids the use of a large number of samples for statistical modeling and analyze the percentages of mixed samples. Meanwhile, it can be used to discriminate and analyze the material mixing uniformity by building a mechanistic model.
Ricardo A. Marques Lameirinhas, Joao Paulo N. Torres, Antonio Baptista
et al.
At nano-scale new phenomena have been discovered, allowing devices’ miniaturisation, energy harvesting, and power reduction. The Extraordinary Optical Transmission (EOT) phenomenon was reported in 1998 by Ebessen, who stated that the resonant peaks in the response of metallic nano antennas were more intense than predicted by classical diffraction theories. Years later, the main reason for this behaviour was attributed to the Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP), at least in ultraviolet and visible regions. In this article, a new method to model the radiation-matter interaction on a dielectric-metal interface is proposed, based on Maxwell’s equations and Fresnel Coefficients in absorbing media. Transmission percentage, angle and propagation length are obtained for a rigorous sweep on incident angle and wavelength. The results taken using some noble metals allow us to observe the presence of surface phenomena at expected SPP resonances. First, it is noticeable huge values of transmission in ultraviolet and visible regions, meaning that the metal does not reflect all the radiation. Also, the transmission angle tends to be higher, meaning huge surface components. Furthermore, the transmission length is on orders of 50-100 nm, meaning that phenomena as EOT only occurs at the nano-scale, since waves should arrive at another interface before being absorbed.
Optical forces in the near fields have important applications in on-chip optical manipulations of small particles and molecules. Here, we report a study of optical force and torque on small particles induced by the optical polarization singularities of a gold cylinder. We show that the scattering of the cylinder generates both electric and magnetic C lines (i.e., lines of polarization singularities) in the near fields, and the C lines can induce complex force and torque on a dielectric/magnetic particle. The force and torque manifest dramatic spatial variations with interesting symmetry properties, providing rich degrees of freedom for near-field optical manipulations. The study, for the first time to our knowledge, uncovers the effect of optical polarization singularities on light-induced force and torque on small particles. The results contribute to the understanding of chiral light-matter interactions and can find applications in on-chip optical manipulations and optical sensing.
An OCM system that employs a 1700 nm broadband laser source enables cellular level deep brain imaging, providing cytoarchitectural and myeloarchitectural information across cortical depth, without requiring tissue slicing. CC – corpus callosum.