Parametric Down-conversion Process Research Articles

Enhancement of cascaded frequency upconversion by ultrafast temporal correlation of twin beams.

We experimentally and numerically study the effect of ultrafast temporal correlations in two-stage frequency upconversion pumping by using intense twin beams. Enhancement in the upconversion efficiency of each stage due to ultrafast temporal correlation is evaluated by varying the time delay between pumping beams. It is found that the temporal correlation of the twin beams is transferred to the first upconverted beam, thereby also enhancing the efficiency of the second sum-frequency generation (SFG). This result suggests that temporal correlations play an important role in enhancing the efficiency of light sources that incorporate a parametric downconversion process.

Recovery of polarization entanglement in partially coherent photonic qubits.

Partially coherent photonic qubits, owing to their robustness in propagation through random media compared to fully coherent qubits, find applications in free-space communication, quantum imaging, and quantum sensing. However, the reduction of spatial coherence degrades entanglement in qubits, adversely affecting entanglement-based applications. We report the recovery of entanglement in the partially coherent photonic qubits generated using a spontaneous parametric downconversion process despite retaining their multimode nature. This study utilizes an electron multiplying charge-coupled device (EMCCD) to perform coincidence measurements, eliminating the need for raster scanning of single-pixel detectors, which simplifies optical alignment, enhances precision, and reduces time consumption. We demonstrate that the size of apertures used to select biphotons substantially impacts the visibility and S-parameter of polarization-entangled partially coherent qubits. The entanglement is recovered with partial spatial coherence properties by choosing small sizes of the apertures in the captured image plane. This study could help in the advancement of free-space quantum communication, quantum imaging, and quantum metrology.

Generation of hyper-bunched light by single Gaussian and non-Gaussian scattering processes

We derive theoretically that hyper-bunched light with a central normalized second-order correlation coefficient of six can be realized by a single Gaussian scattering process of parametric down conversion (PDC) light with a central normalized second-order correlation coefficient of three. The Gaussian scattering process is realized by a rotating ground-glass diffuser. We show that the photon counting probability distribution in this case obeys a Tricomi confluent hypergeometric function U[1+n,3/2,1/⟨n⟩] dependence. Furthermore, we also study non-Gaussian light-scattering probabilities that together with the different impinging light statistics give rise to new photon statistics accompanied by a variety of new values of the second-order correlation coefficient of the scattered light. These theoretical calculations suggest experiments using twin photons from a PDC process and characterizing their photon statistics properties before and after the scattering at the rotating diffuser. These investigations contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the scattering process, the generated light, and new applications.

Single-pass generation of widely-tunable frequency-domain entangled photon pairs.

We demonstrate a technique that generates frequency-entangled photon pairs with strong polarization correlation by using a single-period nonlinear crystal and single pass configuration. The technique is based on the simultaneous occurrence of two spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes satisfying independent type-II collinear quasi-phase matching conditions in periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate. The generated photon pairs exhibit non-degenerate Hong-Ou-Mandel interference, indicating the presence of quantum entanglement in the frequency domain. This method provides a light source capable of wide-range quantum sensing and quantum imaging or high-dimensional quantum processing.

Time alignment quantum illumination based on single real-time coincidence counting

We propose and demonstrate an improved quantum illumination protocol based on the time correlation of twin photons, for the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of target detection and signal reconstruction in the strong noise environment. The Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferometer is applied after the spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process to construct a probing twin-beam in which the photon times are precisely aligned between the beams. At the radar receiver, we put forward a single real-time coincidence counting (SRCC) method on a series of time slices to reconstruct the probe signals of pulse radar and calculate the SNR advantages against the conventional pulse radar, as well as the quantum illumination (QI) protocol. Our main achievements in this research are the realization of real-time detection of quantum information while acquiring a higher SNR than QI and classical illumination (CI) protocols, as well as its demonstration of strong robustness to noise and losses, which also proposes what we believe to be a novel way for quantum target detection.

Monogamy relations for bipartite and tripartite entanglement via intracavity spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Quantum entanglement is an important resource for quantum information processing, quantum communication, quantum computation and quantum sensing. Hence, several proposals have focused on the generation and characterization of entanglement. Some of those proposals are based on intracavity nonlinear processes. Here, we investigate bipartite and tripartite continuous variable entanglement generated by three intracavity spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes. In the model, three beams interact with a nonlinear medium inside a resonant cavity, as well as through the nonlinear process, creating three output fields. We use the positive-P phase-space method to analyze this system and to obtain the steady-states solutions. We also calculate the intracavity fluctuation spectra and utilize different continuous-variable entanglement criteria to certify bipartite/tripartite entanglement. Our results show the frequency regime where bipartite and genuine tripartite entanglement are present in the system. For this system, we also analyze the regimes where the monogamy relations hold.

Compact generation scheme of path–frequency hyperentangled photons using 2D periodical nonlinear photonic crystal

Hyperentanglement is a promising resource for achieving high capacity quantum communication. Here, we propose a compact scheme for the generation of path–frequency hyperentangled photon pairs via spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) processes, where six different paths and two different frequencies are covered. A two-dimensional periodical χ (2) nonlinear photonic crystal (NPC) is designed to satisfy type-I quasi-phase-matching conditions in the plane perpendicular to the incident pump beam, and a perfect phase match is achieved along the pump beam’s direction to ensure high conversion efficiency, with theoretically estimated photon flux up to 2.068 × 105 pairs⋅s−1⋅mm−2. We theoretically calculate the joint-spectral amplitude (JSA) of the generated photon pair and perform Schmidt decomposition on it, where the resulting entropy S of entanglement and effective Schmidt rank K reach 3.2789 and 6.4675, respectively. Our hyperentangled photon source scheme could provide new avenues for high-dimensional quantum communication and high-speed quantum information processing.

Pump-tailored alternative Bell state generation in the first-order Hermite–Gaussian basis

We demonstrate entangled-state swapping, within the Hermite–Gaussian (HG) basis of first-order modes, directly from the process of spontaneous parametric downconversion within a nonlinear crystal. The method works by explicitly tailoring the spatial structure of the pump photon such that it resembles the product of the desired entangled spatial modes exiting the crystal. Importantly, the result is an entangled state of balanced HG modes, which may be beneficial in applications that depend on symmetric accumulations of geometric phase through optics or in applications of quantum sensing and imaging with azimuthal sensitivity. Furthermore, the methods are readily adaptable to other spatial mode bases.

Bipartite and tripartite steering by a nonlinear medium in a cavity

Nonlocal quantum correlations are important for potential applications in quantum optics and quantum information. Multipartite quantum correlations are relevant to access to high-dimensional systems such as qudits. There are also different proposals for the generation of quantum steering based on nonlinear systems and cavities. Here, we consider the Hamiltonian of a triple photon parametric down-conversion process to investigate the regions where bipartite and tripartite steering are generated. In this model, three beams interact with a nonlinear medium inside a cavity through the process of parametric down-conversion, creating three output fields. The positive P representation is used to analyze this system and steady-state solutions are obtained. We calculated the intracavity fluctuation spectra to analyze steering in the frequency domain and used different criteria to certify this quantum correlation. We certified bipartite steering for the three output fields from the cavity. In the case of full tripartite two-way steering inseparability, it is also present for all the bipartitions under consideration. Our results show regimes where bipartite and tripartite steering is certified for this model.

Unfolding the Hong–Ou–Mandel interference between heralded photons from narrowband twin beams

The Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) interference is one of the most intriguing quantum optical phenomena and crucial in performing quantum optical communication and computation tasks. Lately, twin beam emitters such as those relying on the process of parametric down-conversion (PDC) have become confident sources of heralded single photons. However, if the pump power is high enough, the pairs produced via PDC—often called signal and idler—incorporate multiphoton contributions that usually distort the investigated quantum features. Here, we derive the temporal characteristics of the HOM interference between heralded states from two independent narrowband PDC sources. Apart from the PDC multiphoton content, our treatment also takes into account effects arriving from an unbalanced beam splitter ratio and optical losses. We perform a simulation in the telecommunication wavelength range and provide a useful tool for finding the optimal choice for PDC process parameters. Our results offer insight in the properties of narrowband PDC sources and turn useful when driving quantum optical applications with them.

On the role of optical materials in the realization of schemes for secure quantum communication

We introduce a prescription using optical materials to perform a quantum sealed-bid auction using an n-partite cluster state, produced using an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) through the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) and an array of Beam splitters whose properties define the amount of correlation in the corresponding state. We further establish the role of optical materials in performing quantum communication protocols and analyse the effect of noise on the state.

Experimental generation and characterization of partially spatially coherent qubits

Partially spatially coherent qubits are more immune to turbulent atmospheric conditions than coherent qubits, which makes them excellent candidates for free-space quantum communication. In this article, we report the generation of partially spatially coherent qubits in a spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process using a Gaussian Schell model (GSM) pump beam. For this non-linear process, we demonstrate experimentally for the first time, the transfer of spatial coherence features of the pump (classical) to the biphotons (quantum) field. Also, the spatial profiles of partially coherent qubits generated in type-I and type-II non-collinear SPDC process are experimentally observed and multi-mode nature of partially coherent photons (qubit) is ascertained. These investigations pave the way toward the efficient generation of partially spatially coherent qubits with a tunable degree of spatial coherence, which lead to wide range of applications in frontier areas such as quantum cryptography, teleportation, imaging, and lithography.

Generation of hyperentangled photon pairs based on lithium niobate waveguide

Generation of hyperentangled photon pairs is investigated based on the lithium niobate straight waveguide. We propose to use the nonlinear optical process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) and a well-designed lithium niobate waveguide structure to generate a hyperentangled (in the polarization dimension and the energy-time dimension) two-photon state. By performing numerical simulations of the waveguide structure and calculating the possible polarization states, joint spectral amplitudes (JSA), and joint temporal amplitudes (JTA) of the generated photon pair, we show that the generated photon pair is indeed hyperentangled in both the polarization dimension and the energy-time dimension.

Spatial-spectral mapping to prepare frequency entangled qudits.

Entangled qudits, the high-dimensional entangled states, play an important role in the study of quantum information. How to prepare entangled qudits in an efficient and easy-to-operate manner is still a challenge in quantum technology. Here, we demonstrate a method to engineer frequency entangled qudits in a spontaneous parametric downconversion process. The proposal employs an angle-dependent phase-matching condition in a nonlinear crystal, which forms a classical-quantum mapping between the spatial (pump) and spectral (biphotons) degrees of freedom. In particular, the pump profile is separated into several bins in the spatial domain, and thus shapes the down-converted biphotons into discrete frequency modes in the joint spectral space. Our approach provides a feasible and efficient method to prepare a high-dimensional frequency entangled state. As an experimental demonstration, we generate a three-dimensional entangled state by using a homemade variable slit mask.

Continuous variable spin-orbit total angular momentum entanglement on the higher-order Poincaré sphere.

Optical spin-orbit coupling is an important phenomenon and has fruitful applications. Here, we investigate the spin-orbit total angular momentum entanglement in the optical parametric downconversion process. Four pairs of entangled vector vortex modes are experimentally generated directly using a dispersion- and astigmatism-compensated single optical parametric oscillator, and for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the spin-orbit quantum states are characterized on the quantum higher-order Poincaré sphere, and the relationship of spin-orbit total angular momentum Stokes entanglement is demonstrated. These states have potential applications in high-dimensional quantum communication and multiparameter measurement.

Resonant radiation emitted by solitary waves via cascading in quadratic media.

We present a systematic investigation of the resonant radiation emitted by localized soliton-like wave-packets supported by second-harmonic generation in the cascading regime. We emphasize a general mechanism which allows for the resonant radiation to grow without the need for higher-order dispersion, primarily driven by the second-harmonic component, while radiation is also shed around the fundamental-frequency component through parametric down-conversion processes. The ubiquity of such a mechanism is revealed with reference to different localized waves such as bright solitons (both fundamental and second-order), Akhmediev breathers, and dark solitons. A simple phase matching condition is put forward to account for the frequencies radiated around such solitons, which agrees well with numerical simulations performed against changes of material parameters (say, phase mismatch, dispersion ratio). The results provide explicit understanding of the mechanism of soliton radiation in quadratic nonlinear media.

Classical imaging with undetected photons using four-wave mixing in silicon core fibers

Undetected-photon imaging allows for objects to be imaged in wavelength regions where traditional components are unavailable. Although first demonstrated using quantum sources, recent work has shown that the technique also holds with classical beams. To date, however, all the research in this area has exploited parametric down-conversion processes using bulk nonlinear crystals within free-space systems. Here, we demonstrate undetected-photon-based imaging using light generated via stimulated four-wave mixing within highly nonlinear silicon fiber waveguides. The silicon fibers have been tapered to have a core diameter of ∼ 915 nm to engineer the dispersion and reduce the insertion losses, allowing for tight mode confinement over extended lengths to achieve practical nonlinear conversion efficiencies ( ∼ − 30 dB ) with modest pump powers ( ∼ 48 mW ). Both amplitude and phase images are obtained using classically generated light, confirming the high degree of spatial and phase correlation of our system. The high powers ( > 10 nW ) and long coherence lengths ( > 4 km ) associated with our large fiber-based system result in high contrast and stable images.

Ultrathin quantum light source with van der Waals NbOCl2 crystal.

Interlayer electronic coupling in two-dimensional materials enables tunable and emergent properties by stacking engineering. However, it also results in significant evolution of electronic structures and attenuation of excitonic effects in two-dimensional semiconductors as exemplified by quickly degrading excitonic photoluminescence and optical nonlinearities in transition metal dichalcogenides when monolayers are stacked into van der Waals structures. Here we report a van der Waals crystal, niobium oxide dichloride (NbOCl2), featuring vanishing interlayer electronic coupling and monolayer-like excitonic behaviour in the bulk form, along with a scalable second-harmonic generation intensity of up to three orders higher than that in monolayer WS2. Notably, the strong second-order nonlinearity enables correlated parametric photon pair generation, through a spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process, in flakes as thin as about 46 nm. To our knowledge, this is the first SPDC source unambiguously demonstrated in two-dimensional layered materials, and the thinnest SPDC source ever reported. Our work opens an avenue towards developing van der Waals material-based ultracompact on-chip SPDC sources as well as high-performance photon modulators in both classical and quantum optical technologies1-4.

Full characterization of spontaneous parametric down conversion in non-ideal quarter-wavelength semiconductor Bragg reflection waveguide

Entangled photons are important for testing foundations of quantum physics and are at the heart of quantum technology. Integrated photonics has overwhelming dominance in terms of density and performance, making it a promise route for scalable quantum information processing. AlGaAs-based materials having large second-order non-linearities, direct bandgap and strong electro-optical effect can offer distinct advantages in quantum light source. Here we report a non-ideal quarter-wavelength Bragg reflection waveguide for generating three types of spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes. A general solution to the dispersion equation is derived and employed for designing high efficiency devices by taking into account the influence of core layer aluminium concentration. We further design and fabricate a Bragg reflection waveguide sample based on the analysis, and experimentally characterize its phase matching types and spectral brightness. Our work paves the path for the development of portable quantum light sources.

Birefringence compensation utilizing quarter-wave plates in cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion process

Single-photon source is an essential element in quantum information processing, and extensively used in the proof-in-principle demonstration in quantum physics, quantum imaging, quantum cryptography, etc. Considering the operating temperature and system complexity, it is a favorable option to choose spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) combined with the enhancement effect of a cavity. When generating significant single-photon source via the cavity-enhanced type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion method, there appears inevitable birefringence effect which obviously influences the resonance condition. In order to compensate for birefringence effect, different approaches have been used such as introducing compensating crystal, placing a half-wave plate, tuning the temperature of the nonlinear crystal, customized conjoined double-cavity structure, and cluster effect. In this work, two quarter-wave plates, with an angle of 45° between the optical axis and the crystal axis, are placed in the cavity to ensure the double resonance of signal photon and idler photon. In the process, the signal photon and idler photon generated simultaneously have different polarizations perpendicular to each other through the type-II nonlinear crystal. Considering horizontally polarized photon, its polarization is changed into left circular polarization by the first quarter-wave plate and then returns as vertical polarization. After traversing a long optical path, it shifts to right circular polarization through the second quarter-wave plate. When the photon passes through the same quarter-wave plate again, the polarization state is originally converted into horizontal polarization state. Then the photon completes a round-trip. The other photon with vertical polarization experiences the same process. As a result, the signal photon and idler photon travel identical optical path. The general explanation is described by the Jones matrices, with the emphasis on the transformation of the polarizations of photons. This method can effectively compensate for birefringence effect, achieving double resonance by using a relatively simple device under the condition of smaller intra-cavity loss and more flexible for adjustment. The signal (idler) photon has a sub-natural linewidth of <inline-formula><tex-math id="Z-20230611154134">\begin{document}$1.01( 1.08 )\;{\rm{MHz}} $\end{document}</tex-math><alternatives><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="12-20230422_Z-20230611154134.jpg"/><graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="12-20230422_Z-20230611154134.png"/></alternatives></inline-formula>, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed technique. This introduced compensating method paves the way to the realization of single-photon quantum source applied to the research of single-photon-single-atom quantum information processing, quantum interface and quantum network node with a single cesium atom confined in the strongly coupled cavity quantum electrodynamics system.