Development Of Quantum Optics Research Articles

Ultrafast Excitation Exchange in a Maxwell Fish-Eye Lens.

The strong coupling of quantum emitters to a cavity mode has been of paramount importance in the development of quantum optics. Recently, also the strong coupling to more than a single mode of an electromagnetic resonator has drawn considerable interest. We investigate how this multimode strong coupling regime can be harnessed to coherently control quantum systems. Specifically, we demonstrate that a Maxwell fish-eye lens can be used to implement a pulsed excitation exchange between two distant quantum emitters. This periodic exchange is mediated by single-photon pulses and can be extended to a photon-exchange between two atomic ensembles, for which the coupling strength is enhanced collectively.

Trends in Quantum Optics

Here, we review some of the recent developments in quantum optics. After a brief introduction to the historical development of the subject, we discuss some of the modern aspects of quantum optics including atom field interactions, quantum state engineering, metamaterials and plasmonics, optomechanical systems, PT (parity-time) symmetry in quantum optics, as well as, quasi-probability distributions and quantum state tomography. Further, the recent developments in topological photonics is briefly discussed. The potent role of the subject in the development of our understanding of quantum physics and modern technologies is highlighted.

Talbot effect of orbital angular momentum lattices with single photons

The self-imaging, or Talbot Effect, that occurs with the propagation of periodically structured waves has enabled several unique applications in optical metrology, image processing, data transmission, and matter-wave interferometry. In this work, we report on the first demonstration of a Talbot Effect with single photons prepared in a lattice of orbital angular momentum (OAM) states. We observe that upon propagation, the wavefronts of the single photons manifest self-imaging whereby the OAM lattice intensity profile is recovered. Furthermore, we show that the intensity at fractional Talbot distances is indicative of a periodic helical phase structure corresponding to a lattice of OAM states. This phenomenon is a powerful addition to the toolbox of orbital angular momentum and spin-orbit techniques that have already enabled many recent developments in quantum optics.

Quadrature squeezed photons from a two-level system

Resonance fluorescence arises from the interaction of an optical field with a two-level system, and has played a fundamental role in the development of quantum optics and its applications. Despite its conceptual simplicity, it entails a wide range of intriguing phenomena, such as the Mollow-triplet emission spectrum, photon antibunching and coherent photon emission. One fundamental aspect of resonance fluorescence--squeezing in the form of reduced quantum fluctuations in the single photon stream from an atom in free space--was predicted more than 30 years ago. However, the requirement to operate in the weak excitation regime, together with the combination of modest oscillator strength of atoms and low collection efficiencies, has continued to necessitate stringent experimental conditions for the observation of squeezing with atoms. Attempts to circumvent these issues had to sacrifice antibunching, owing to either stimulated forward scattering from atomic ensembles or multi-photon transitions inside optical cavities. Here, we use an artificial atom with a large optical dipole enabling 100-fold improvement of the photon detection rate over the natural atom counterpart and reach the necessary conditions for the observation of quadrature squeezing in single resonance-fluorescence photons. By implementing phase-dependent homodyne intensity-correlation detection, we demonstrate that the electric field quadrature variance of resonance fluorescence is three per cent below the fundamental limit set by vacuum fluctuations, while the photon statistics remain antibunched. The presence of squeezing and antibunching simultaneously is a fully non-classical outcome of the wave-particle duality of photons.

Introduction to the 12th Central European Workshop on Quantum Optics

A brief comment concerning the history of Central European Workshops on Quantum Optics and the development of quantum optics is presented.

Trends in quantum chaotic scattering

Quantum scattering of waves in classically chaotic systems has been the subject of rather intensive research activity for more than two decades, both theoretically and experimentally. This interest was motivated by phenomena discovered in various areas, ranging from nuclear, atomic and molecular physics, to mesoscopics and theory of electron transport, quantum chaos, and classical wave scattering. Recently, the interest in this subject was renewed due to technological developments in quantum optics (in particular the ability to construct microlasers with chaotic resonators which produce high-power directional emission) as well as the experimental realizations of the so-called random lasers where the feedback is due to multiple scattering within the medium. The articles collected in this special issue, which contains both review-style contributions and regular research papers, should give an up-to-date, fairly representative (but definitely not complete) picture of current activity related to the various facets of chaotic wave scattering, and its diverse manifestations. We hope that this will serve as a good basis for boosting the research in this fascinating area to a new level of understanding.

Quantum nonlinear optics in artificially phase-matched materials

We present a brief overview of the recent developments in quantum optics concerning the control and reduction of quantum noise. The achievements on squeezing, quantum non-demolition measurement and noiseless optical functions are summarized. The present limitations in quantum performance are discussed. We particularly stress the role of nonlinear optics and point out the advantages expected from the implementation of new artificially phase-matched materials, in different configurations including cascaded second-order nonlinearities.

Recent Developments in Quantum Optics

Recent Developments in Quantum Optics

Properties of displaced number states.

Recent developments in quantum optics have led to new proposals to generate number states of the electromagnetic field using conditioned measurement techniques or the properties of atom-field interactions in microwave cavities in the micromaser. The number-state field prepared in such a way may be transformed by the action of a displacement operator; for the microwave micromaser state this could be implemented by the action of a classical current that drives the cavity field. We evaluate some properties of such displaced number states, especially their description in phase space. The photon number distribution is shown to display unusual oscillations, which are interpreted as interference in phase space, analogous to Franck-Condon oscillations in molecular spectra. The possibility of detecting these oscillations is discussed, through the photodetection counting statistics of the displaced number states. We show that the displaced-number-state quantum features are relatively robust when dissipation of the field energy is included.

Quantum Electronics

The second national quantum electronics conference at St Catherine's College, Oxford will cover topics from theoretical developments in quantum optics to the industrial applications of lasers, taking in laser spectroscopy and photochemistry. The industrial exhibition of equipment to be held in conjunction with the conference will cover the same fields, and this feature is intended as a guide to the products on display