Quantum theory of single-photon nonlinearities generated by ensembles of emitters

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2307.01375v1
• Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2023 22:02:51 GMT
• Title: Quantum theory of single-photon nonlinearities generated by ensembles of emitters
• Authors: Kurt Jacobs, Stefan Krastanov, Mikkel Heuck, Dirk R. Englund
• Abstract summary: We present a theory of the generation of optical nonlinearities by single emitters and ensembles. The theory reveals critical properties of ensembles that have long been obscure. It also provides an efficient way to calculate nonlinearities for arbitrary multi-level driving schemes.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: The achievement of sufficiently fast interactions between two optical fields at the few-photon level would provide a key enabler for a broad range of quantum technologies. One critical hurdle in this endeavor is the lack of a comprehensive quantum theory of the generation of nonlinearities by ensembles of emitters. Distinct approaches applicable to different regimes have yielded important insights: i) a semiclassical approach reveals that, for many-photon coherent fields, the contributions of independent emitters add independently allowing ensembles to produce strong optical nonlinearities via EIT; ii) a quantum analysis has shown that in the few-photon regime collective coupling effects prevent ensembles from inducing these strong nonlinearities. Rather surprisingly, experimental results with around twenty photons are in line with the semi-classical predictions. Theoretical analysis has been fragmented due to the difficulty of treating nonlinear many-body quantum systems. Here we are able to solve this problem by constructing a powerful theory of the generation of optical nonlinearities by single emitters and ensembles. The key to this construction is the application of perturbation theory to perturbations generated by subsystems. This theory reveals critical properties of ensembles that have long been obscure. The most remarkable of these is the discovery that quantum effects prevent ensembles generating single-photon nonlinearities only within the rotating-wave regime; outside this regime single-photon nonlinearities scale as the number of emitters. The theory we present here also provides an efficient way to calculate nonlinearities for arbitrary multi-level driving schemes, and we expect that it will prove a powerful foundation for further advances in this area.

Related papers

• How single-photon nonlinearity is quenched with multiple quantum emitters: Quantum Zeno effect in collective interactions with $\Lambda$-level atoms [49.1574468325115]
  We show that the single-photon nonlinearity vanishes with the number of emitters. The mechanism behind this behavior is the quantum Zeno effect, manifested in the slowdown of the photon-controlled dynamics.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-01-13T06:55:18Z)
• Ultrafast second-order nonlinear photonics -- from classical physics to non-Gaussian quantum dynamics [0.0]
  State-of-the-art devices achieve saturated nonlinear interactions with thousands of photons when driven by continuous-wave lasers. Ultrafast pulses may soon push nonlinear optics into the realm of single-photon nonlinearities.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2024-01-11T21:25:43Z)
• All-optical modulation with single-photons using electron avalanche [69.65384453064829]
  We demonstrate all-optical modulation using a beam with single-photon intensity. Our approach opens up the possibility of terahertz-speed optical switching at the single-photon level.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-12-18T20:14:15Z)
• Mesoscopic ultrafast nonlinear optics -- The emergence of multimode quantum non-Gaussian physics [0.0]
  nonlinear nanophotonics place us just above the mesoscopic regime, where a few hundred photons suffice to trigger nonlinear saturation. In contrast to classical or deep-quantum optics, the mesoscale is characterized by dynamical interactions between mean-field, Gaussian, and non-Gaussian quantum features. This review is intended to serve as a guidepost as we begin to navigate this new frontier in ultrafast quantum nonlinear optics.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-11-23T02:20:35Z)
• Maximally efficient biphoton generation by single photon decay in nonlinear quantum photonic circuits [0.0]
  We show that the well-known critical coupling concept of integrated optics can be generalized to the nonlinear coupling of quantized photon modes. We establish a fundamental upper limit on the nonlinear generation efficiency of quantum-correlated photons.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-09-16T22:49:53Z)
• Quantum correlated photons via a passive nonlinear microcavity [1.0753191494611891]
  We create non-classical photon correlations, including photon anti-bunching, via a passive InGaP photonic integrated circuit. Our work opens a new route in controlling quantum light by harnessing highly-engineerable bulk optical nonlinearities.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-04-23T15:02:36Z)
• Quantum vortices of strongly interacting photons [52.131490211964014]
  Vortices are hallmark of nontrivial dynamics in nonlinear physics. We report on the realization of quantum vortices resulting from a strong photon-photon interaction in a quantum nonlinear optical medium. For three photons, the formation of vortex lines and a central vortex ring attests to a genuine three-photon interaction.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2023-02-12T18:11:04Z)
• Classical-to-quantum transition in multimode nonlinear systems with strong photon-photon coupling [12.067269037074292]
  We investigate the classical-to-quantum transition of such photonic nonlinear systems using the quantum cluster-expansion method. This work presents a universal tool to study quantum dynamics of multimode systems and explore the nonlinear photonic devices for continuous-variable quantum information processing.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-11-18T07:26:57Z)
• Topologically Protecting Squeezed Light on a Photonic Chip [58.71663911863411]
  Integrated photonics offers an elegant way to increase the nonlinearity by confining light strictly inside the waveguide. We experimentally demonstrate the topologically protected nonlinear process of spontaneous four-wave mixing enabling the generation of squeezed light on a silica chip.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2021-06-14T13:39:46Z)
• Quantum metamaterial for nondestructive microwave photon counting [52.77024349608834]
  We introduce a single-photon detector design operating in the microwave domain based on a weakly nonlinear metamaterial. We show that the single-photon detection fidelity increases with the length of the metamaterial to approach one at experimentally realistic lengths. In stark contrast to conventional photon detectors operating in the optical domain, the photon is not destroyed by the detection and the photon wavepacket is minimally disturbed.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-05-13T18:00:03Z)
• Theoretical methods for ultrastrong light-matter interactions [91.3755431537592]
  This article reviews theoretical methods developed to understand cavity quantum electrodynamics in the ultrastrong-coupling regime. The article gives a broad overview of the recent progress, ranging from analytical estimate of ground-state properties to proper computation of master equations. Most of the article is devoted to effective models, relevant for the various experimental platforms in which the ultrastrong coupling has been reached.
  arXiv  Detail & Related papers  (2020-01-23T18:09:10Z)

This list is automatically generated from the titles and abstracts of the papers in this site.

This site does not guarantee the quality of this site (including all information) and is not responsible for any consequences.