No Arabic abstract
Sources of quantum light, in particular correlated photon pairs that are indistinguishable in all degrees of freedom, are the fundamental resource that enables continuous-variable quantum computation and paradigms such as Gaussian boson sampling. Nanophotonic systems offer a scalable platform for implementing sources of indistinguishable correlated photon pairs. However, such sources have so far relied on the use of a single component, such as a single waveguide or a ring resonator, which offers limited ability to tune the spectral and temporal correlations between photons. Here, we demonstrate the use of a topological photonic system comprising a two-dimensional array of ring resonators to generate indistinguishable photon pairs with dynamically tunable spectral and temporal correlations. Specifically, we realize dual-pump spontaneous four-wave mixing in this array of silicon ring resonators that exhibits topological edge states. We show that the linear dispersion of the edge states over a broad bandwidth allows us to tune the correlations, and therefore, quantum interference between photons by simply tuning the two pump frequencies in the edge band. Furthermore, we demonstrate energy-time entanglement between generated photons. We also show that our topological source is inherently protected against fabrication disorders. Our results pave the way for scalable and tunable sources of squeezed light that are indispensable for quantum information processing using continuous variables.
Quantum light sources are characterized by their distinctive statistical distribution of photons. For example, single photons and correlated photon pairs exhibit antibunching and reduced variance in the number distribution that is impossible with classical light. Most common realizations of quantum light sources have relied on spontaneous parametric processes such as down-conversion (SPDC) and four-wave mixing (SFWM). These processes are mediated by vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. Therefore, by manipulating the electromagnetic mode structure, for example, using nanophotonic systems, one can engineer the spectrum of generated photons. However, such manipulations are susceptible to fabrication disorders which are ubiquitous in nanophotonic systems and lead to device-to-device variations in the spectrum of generated photons. Here, we demonstrate topologically robust mode engineering of the electromagnetic vacuum fluctuations and implement a nanophotonic quantum light source where the spectrum of generated photons is robust against fabrication disorders. Specifically, we use the topological edge states to achieve an enhanced and robust generation of correlated photon pairs using SFWM and show that they outperform their topologically-trivial counterparts. We demonstrate the non-classical nature of our source using conditional antibunching of photons which confirms that we have realized a robust source of heralded single photons. Such topological effects, which are unique to bosonic systems, could pave the way for the development of robust quantum photonic devices.
Quantum random number generation (QRNG) harnesses the intrinsic randomness of quantum mechanical phenomena. Demonstrations of such processes have, however, been limited to probabilistic sources, for instance, spontaneous parametric down-conversion or faint lasers, which cannot be triggered deterministically. Here, we demonstrate QRNG with a quantum emitter in hexagonal boron nitride; an emerging solid-state quantum source that can generate single photons on demand and operates at room temperature. We achieve true random number generation through the measurement of single photons exiting one of four integrated photonic waveguides, and subsequently, verify the randomness of the sequences in accordance with the National Institute of Standards and Technology benchmark suite. Our results open a new avenue to the fabrication of on-chip deterministic random number generators and other solid-state-based quantum-optical devices.
Optical-coherence tomography (OCT) is a technique that employs light in order to measure the internal structure of semi-transparent, e.g. biological, samples. It is based on the interference pattern of low-coherence light. Quantum-OCT (QOCT), instead, employs the correlation properties of entangled photon pairs, for example, generated by the process of spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC). The usual QOCT scheme uses photon pairs characterised by a joint-spectral amplitude with strict spectral anti-correlations. It has been shown that, in contrast with its classical counterpart, QOCT provides resolution enhancement and dispersion cancellation. In this paper, we revisit the theory of QOCT and extend the theoretical model so as to include photon pairs with arbitrary spectral correlations. We present experimental results that complement the theory and explain the physical underpinnings appearing in the interference pattern. In our experiment, we utilize a pump for the SPDC process ranging from continuous wave to pulsed in the femtosecond regime, and show that cross-correlation interference effects appearing for each pair of layers may be directly suppressed for a sufficiently large pump bandwidth. Our results provide insights and strategies that could guide practical implementations of QOCT.
Spectrally correlated photon pairs can be used to improve performance of long range fiber based quantum communication protocols. We present a source based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion producing polarization entangled photons without spectral filtering. In addition, the spectral correlation within the photon pair can be controlled by changing the pump pulse duration or coupled spatial modes characteristics. The spectral and polarization correlations were characterized. The generated photon pairs feature both positive spectral correlations, no correlations, or negative correlations and polarization entanglement with the fidelity as high as 0.97 (no background subtraction) with the expected Bell state.
Light shaping facilitates the preparation and detection of optical states and underlies many applications in communications, computing, and imaging. In this Letter, we generalize light shaping to the quantum domain. We show that patterns of phase modulation for classical laser light can also shape higher orders of spatial coherence, allowing deterministic tailoring of high-dimensional quantum entanglement. By modulating spatially entangled photon pairs, we create periodic, topological, and random patterns of quantum illumination, without effect on intensity. We then structure the quantum illumination to simultaneously compensate for entanglement that has been randomized by a scattering medium and to characterize the mediums properties via a quantum measurement of the optical memory effect. The results demonstrate fundamental aspects of spatial coherence and open the field of adaptive quantum optics.