Abstract
We develop a coherent control theory for multimode quantum light. It allows us to examine a fundamental problem in quantum optics: what is the optimal pulse form to drive a two-photon-transition? In formulating the question as a coherent control problem, we show that—and quantify how much—the strong frequency quantum correlations of entangled photons enhance the transition compared to shaped classical pulses. In ensembles of collectively driven two-level systems, such enhancement requires nonvanishing interactions.
Highlights
The nonlinear interaction between faint light and matter on a single atom/molecule and few-photon level is of great fundamental and practical interest: while Gedanken experiments involving single photons and single quantum emitters have recently come within reach of experimental verification [1,2,3], similar applications in single molecule spectroscopy may unravel the quantum dynamics of photo-sensitive materials beyond the ensemble average [4], and promise to elucidate, for instance, the role of fluctuations in energy transport [5, 6]
Since the above discussion establishes that entangled photons can enhance the two-photon transition probability when either D 1 0 or d 1 0, we investigate the optimal pulse forms in detail
We investigated optimal pulse forms to efficiently drive a resonant two-photon transition with weak fields
Summary
The nonlinear interaction between faint light and matter on a single atom/molecule and few-photon level is of great fundamental and practical interest: while Gedanken experiments involving single photons and single quantum emitters have recently come within reach of experimental verification [1,2,3], similar applications in single molecule spectroscopy may unravel the quantum dynamics of photo-sensitive materials beyond the ensemble average [4], and promise to elucidate, for instance, the role of fluctuations in energy transport [5, 6]. The feeble probe and signal fields in such experiments pose a formidable challenge: in order to detect the typically very weak nonlinear effects at small photon numbers (on the order of one), one seeks to, either, optimize the nonlinearity of the optical medium, or to manipulate the light fields: the former route includes the cavity-enhanced coupling of light to the medium [13,14,15], or the enhancement of the medium’s nonlinearity by additional strong driving fields [7, 8], large dipoles in highly excited Rydberg states [16, 17], or molecular design of target molecules [18, 19] In the latter route, strong focussing of the light beams, i.e. the choice of a suitable geometry, was exploited to detect the nonlinear response on a single molecule level [1,2,3].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
