No Arabic abstract
A standard method to detect thermal neutrons is the nuclear interaction $^3$He(n,p)$^3$H. The spin-dependence of this interaction is also the basis of a neutron spin-polarization filter using nuclear polarized $^3$He. We consider the corresponding interaction for neutrons placed in an intrinsic orbital angular momentum (OAM) state. We derive the relative polarization-dependent absorption cross-sections for neutrons in an $L=1$ OAM state. The absorption of those neutrons results in compound states $J^pi=0^-$, $1^-$, and $2^-$. Varying the three available polarizations tests that an OAM neutron has been absorbed and probes which decay states are physically possible. We describe the energetically likely excited states of $^4$He after absorption, due to the fact that the compound state has odd parity. This provides a definitive method for detecting neutron OAM states and suggests that intrinsic OAM states offer the possibility to observe new physics, including anomalous cross-sections and new channels of radioactive decay.
So far experimental confirmation of entanglement has been restricted to qubits, i.e. two-state quantum systems including recent realization of three- and four-qubit entanglements. Yet, an ever increasing body of theoretical work calls for entanglement in quantum system of higher dimensions. Here we report the first realization of multi-dimensional entanglement exploiting the orbital angular momentum of photons, which are states of the electromagnetic field with phase singularities (doughnut modes). The properties of such states could be of importance for the efforts in the field of quantum computation and quantum communication. For example, quantum cryptography with higher alphabets could enable one to increase the information flux through the communication channels.
We present an optomechanical device designed to allow optical transduction of orbital angular momentum of light. An optically induced twist imparted on the device by light is detected using an integrated cavity optomechanical system based on a nanobeam slot-mode photonic crystal cavity. This device could allow measurement of the orbital angular momentum of light when photons are absorbed by the mechanical element, or detection of the presence of photons when they are scattered into new orbital angular momentum states by a sub-wavelength grating patterned on the device. Such a system allows detection of a $l = 1$ orbital angular momentum field with an average power of $3.9times10^3$ photons modulated at the mechanical resonance frequency of the device and can be extended to higher order orbital angular momentum states.
Hybrid entangled states exhibit entanglement between different degrees of freedom of a particle pair and thus could be useful for asymmetric optical quantum network where the communication channels are characterized by different properties. We report the first experimental realization of hybrid polarization-orbital angular momentum (OAM) entangled states by adopting a spontaneous parametric down conversion source of polarization entangled states and a polarization-OAM transferrer. The generated quantum states have been characterized through quantum state tomography. Finally, the violation of Bells inequalities with the hybrid two photon system has been observed.
A new physical mechanism to achieve spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion based on the interaction of an intense circularly polarized (CP) laser beam with a plane foil is presented and studied for the first time. It has been verified by both simulation and theoretical analysis that vortex harmonics carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) are generated after a relativistic CP laser beam, even a Gaussian beam, impinges normally on a plane foil. The generation of this vortex harmonics is attributed to the vortex oscillation of the plasma surface driven harmonically by the vortex longitudinal electric field of the CP beam. During the process of harmonic generation, the spin angular momenta of fundamental-frequency photons are converted to OAM of harmonic photon because of the conservation of total angular momentum. In addition, if an initially vortex beam or a spiral phase plate is used, the OAM of harmonic photon can be more tunable and controllable.
This article reviews the physics and technology of producing large quantities of highly spin-polarized, or hyperpolarized, $^3$He nuclei using spin-exchange (SEOP) and metastability-exchange (MEOP) optical pumping, and surveys applications of polarized $^3$He. Several recent developments are emphasized for each method. For SEOP, the use of spectrally narrowed lasers and Rb/K mixtures has substantially increased the achievable polarization and polarizing rate. MEOP in high magnetic fields has likewise significantly increased the pressure at which this method can be performed, and has led to the observation of a light-induced relaxation mechanism. In both methods the increased capabilities have led to more extensive study and modeling of the basic underlying physics. New unexplained dependences of relaxation on temperature and magnetic field have been discovered in SEOP cells. Applications of both methods are also reviewed, including targets for charged particle and photon beams, neutron spin filters, magnetic resonance imaging, and precision measurements.