Generation and symmetry control of quantum frequency combs

G Maltese,S Ducci,F Baboux,P Milman,A Lemaître,F Appas,M I Amanti,G Sinnl

doi:10.1038/s41534-019-0237-9

Abstract

Quantum frequency combs are a useful resource for parallel quantum communication and processing, given the robustness and easy handling offered by the frequency degree of freedom. In this work, we propose a method to generate broadband biphoton frequency combs and control their symmetry under particle exchange, based on purely passive optical components, such as a cavity and an optical delay line. We experimentally demonstrate our method using an integrated AlGaAs semiconductor platform producing quantum frequency combs, working at room temperature and compliant with electrical injection. We show the generation and manipulation of biphoton frequency combs, spreading over more the 500 peaks. These results open interesting perspectives for the development of massively parallel and reconfigurable systems for complex quantum operations.

Highlights

Since the emergence of the domain of quantum information, quantum optics plays an important role as an experimental test bench for a large variety of novel concepts; nowadays, in the framework of the development of quantum technologies, photonics represents a promising platform for several applications, ranging from long-distance quantum communications to the simulation of complex phenomena and metrology.[1,2]
We have proposed and demonstrated a method to generate and manipulate the symmetry of biphoton frequency combs based on the interplay between cavity effects and exploit the maximum nonzero optical nonlinear coefficient and a natural cleavage plane
The modes involved in the nonlinear process are a TE Bragg mode for the pump beam around 765 nm and TE00 and TM00 modes for the photon pairs in the C-telecom band

Summary

Introduction

Since the emergence of the domain of quantum information, quantum optics plays an important role as an experimental test bench for a large variety of novel concepts; nowadays, in the framework of the development of quantum technologies, photonics represents a promising platform for several applications, ranging from long-distance quantum communications to the simulation of complex phenomena and metrology.[1,2] In these last years, a growing attention has been devoted to large-scale entangled quantum states of light as key elements to increase the data capacity and robustness in quantum information protocols. This has been implemented using different degrees of freedom of light: spatial or path modes,[3,4] orbital angular momentum,[5,6] timeenergy,[7] frequency.[8,9] Among all these possibilities, the frequency domain is appealing, thanks to its compatibility with the existing fibered telecom network;[10] it enables the development of robust and scalable systems in a single spatial mode, without the requirement of complex beam shaping or stabilized interferometers.

Methods

Results

Conclusion