arXiv subjects

Ephraim Shahmoon

Publications and source records attributed to Ephraim Shahmoon.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Quantum optomechanics of a two-dimensional atomic array

We demonstrate that a two-dimensional (2D) atomic array can be used as a novel platform for quantum optomechanics. Such arrays feature both nearly-perfect reflectivity and ultra-light mass, leading to significantly-enhanced optomechanical phenomena. Considering the collective atom-array motion under continuous laser illumination, we study the nonlinear optical response of the array. We find that the spectrum of light scattered by the array develops multiple sidebands, corresponding to collective mechanical resonances, and exhibits nearly perfect quantum-noise squeezing. Possible extensions and applications for quantum nonlinear optomechanics are discussed.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2018

Quantum Nonlinear Optics in Atomically Thin Materials

We show that a nonlinear optical response associated with a resonant, atomically thin material can be dramatically enhanced by placing it in front of a partially reflecting mirror, rendering otherwise weakly nonlinear systems suitable for experiments and applications involving quantum nonlinear optics. Our approach exploits the nonlinear response of long-lived polariton resonances that arise at particular distances between the material and the mirror. The scheme is entirely based on free-space optics, eliminating the need for cavities or complex nanophotonic structures. We analyze a specific implementation based on exciton-polariton resonances in two-dimensional semiconductors and discuss the role of imperfections and loss.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Electronic zero-point fluctuation forces inside circuit components

One of the most intriguing manifestations of quantum zero-point fluctuations are the van der Waals and Casimir forces, often associated with vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. Here we study generalized fluctuation potentials acting on internal degrees of freedom of components in electrical circuits. These electronic Casimir-like potentials are induced by the zero-point current fluctuations of any general conductive circuit. For realistic examples of an electromechanical capacitor and a superconducting qubit, our results reveal the possibility of tunable forces between the capacitor plates, or the level shifts of the qubit, respectively. Our analysis suggests an alternative route towards the exploration of Casimir-like fluctuation potentials, namely, by characterizing and measuring them as a function of parameters of the environment. Such tunable potentials may be useful for future nanoelectromechanical and quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2017

Casimir forces in transmission-line circuits: QED and fluctuation-dissipation formalisms

Transmission-line waveguides can mediate long-range fluctuation-induced forces between neutral objects. We present two approaches for the description of these forces between electric components embedded in transmission-line circuits. The first, following ordinary quantum electrodynamics (QED), consists of the quantization and scattering theory of voltage and current waves inside transmission lines. The second approach relies on a simple circuit analysis with additional noisy current sources due to resistors in the circuit, as per the fluctuation-dissipation theorem (FDT). We apply the latter approach to derive a general formula for the Casimir force induced by circuit fluctuations between any two impedances. The application of this formula, considering the sign of the resulting force, is discussed. While both QED and FDT approaches are equivalent, we conclude that the latter is simpler to generalize and solve.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Cooperative resonances in light scattering from two-dimensional atomic arrays

We consider light scattering off a two-dimensional (2D) dipolar array and show how it can be tailored by properly choosing the lattice constant of the order of the incident wavelength. In particular, we demonstrate that such arrays can operate as nearly perfect mirrors for a wide range of incident angles and frequencies close to the individual atomic resonance. These results can be understood in terms of the cooperative resonances of the surface modes supported by the 2D array. Experimental realizations are discussed, using ultracold arrays of trapped atoms and excitons in 2D semiconductor materials, as well as potential applications ranging from atomically thin metasurfaces to single photon nonlinear optics and nanomechanics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2016

Highly nonlocal optical nonlinearities in atoms trapped near a waveguide

Nonlinear optical phenomena are typically local. Here we predict the possibility of highly nonlocal optical nonlinearities for light propagating in atomic media trapped near a nano-waveguide, where long-range interactions between the atoms can be tailored. When the atoms are in an electromagnetically-induced transparency configuration, the atomic interactions are translated to long-range interactions between photons and thus to highly nonlocal optical nonlinearities. We derive and analyze the governing nonlinear propagation equation, finding a roton-like excitation spectrum for light and the emergence of order in its output intensity. These predictions open the door to studies of unexplored wave dynamics and many-body physics with highly-nonlocal interactions of optical fields in one dimension.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2015

Thermal Baths as Quantum Resources: More Friends than Foes?

In this article we argue that thermal reservoirs (baths) are potentially useful resources in processes involving atoms interacting with quantized electromagnetic fields and their applications to quantum technologies. One may try to suppress the bath effects by means of dynamical control, but such control does not always yield the desired results. We wish instead to take advantage of bath effects, that do not obliterate "quantumness" in the system-bath compound. To this end, three possible approaches have been pursued by us: (i) Control of a quantum system faster than the correlation time of the bath to which it couples: Such control allows us to reveal quasi-reversible/coherent dynamical phenomena of quantum open systems, manifest by the quantum Zeno or anti-Zeno effects (QZE or AZE, respectively). Dynamical control methods based on the QZE are aimed not only at protecting the quantumness of the system, but also diagnosing the bath spectra or transferring quantum information via noisy media. By contrast, AZE-based control is useful for fast cooling of thermalized quantum systems. (ii) Engineering the coupling of quantum systems to selected bath modes: This approach, based on field -atom coupling control in cavities, waveguides and photonic band structures, allows to drastically enhance the strength and range of atom-atom coupling through the mediation of the selected bath modes. More dramatically, it allows us to achieve bath-induced entanglement that may appear paradoxical if one takes the conventional view that coupling to baths destroys quantumness. (iii) Engineering baths with appropriate non-flat spectra: This approach is a prerequisite for the construction of the simplest and most efficient quantum heat machines (engines and refrigerators). We may thus conclude that often thermal baths are "more friends than foes" in quantum technologies.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Giant vacuum forces via transmission lines

Quantum electromagnetic fluctuations induce forces between neutral particles, known as the van der Waals (vdW) and Casimir interactions. These fundamental forces, mediated by virtual photons from the vacuum, play an important role in basic physics and chemistry, and in emerging technologies involving, e.g. micro-electromechanical systems or quantum information processing. Here we show that these interactions can be enhanced by many orders of magnitude upon changing the character of the mediating vacuum-modes. By considering two polarizable particles in the vicinity of any standard electric transmission line, along which photons can propagate in one dimension (1d), we find a much stronger and longer-range interaction than in free-space. This enhancement may have profound implications on many-particle and bulk systems, and impact the quantum technologies mentioned above. The predicted giant vacuum force is estimated to be measurable in a coplanar waveguide line.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Non-additivity in laser-illuminated many-atom systems

We show that atoms subject to laser radiation may form a non-additive many-body system on account of their long-range forces, when the atoms are trapped in the vicinity of a fiber with a Bragg grating. When the laser frequency is inside the grating's bandgap but very close to its edge, we find that the range and strength of the laser-induced interaction becomes substantially enhanced, due to the large density of states near the edge, while the competing process of scattering to the fiber is inhibited. The dynamics of the atomic positions in this system conforms to a prominent model of statistical physics which exhibits slow relaxation. This suggests the possibility of using laser-illuminated atoms to study the characteristics of non-additive systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2014

Nonlinear theory of laser-induced dipolar interactions in arbitrary geometry

Polarizable dipoles, such as atoms, molecules or nanoparticles, subject to laser radiation, may attract or repel each other. We derive a general formalism in which such laser-induced dipole-dipole interactions (LIDDI) in any geometry and for any laser strength are described in terms of the resonant dipole-dipole interaction (RDDI) between dipoles dressed by the laser. Our expressions provide a physically clear and technically simple route towards the analysis of LIDDI in a general geometry. This approach can treat both mechanical and internal-state interactions between the dipoles. Our general results reveal LIDDI effects due to nonlinear dipole-laser interactions, unaccounted for by previous treatments of LIDDI. We discuss, via several simple approaches, the origin of these nonlinear effects and their absence in previous works.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Cooperative Lamb shift in a quantum emitter array

Whenever several quantum light emitters are brought in proximity with one another, their interaction with common electromagnetic fields couples them, giving rise to cooperative shifts in their resonance frequency. Such collective line shifts are central to modern atomic physics, being closely related to superradiance on one hand and the Lamb shift on the other. Although collective shifts have been theoretically predicted more than fifty years ago, the effect has not been observed yet in a controllable system of a few isolated emitters. Here, we report a direct spectroscopic observation of the cooperative shift of an optical electric dipole transition in a system of up to eight Sr ions suspended in a Paul trap. We study collective resonance shift in the previously unexplored regime of far-field coupling, and provide the first observation of cooperative effects in an array of quantum emitters. These results pave the way towards experimental exploration of cooperative emission phenomena in mesoscopic systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Dispersion forces inside metallic waveguides

We consider the dispersion energy of a pair of dipoles embedded in a metallic waveguide with transverse dimension $a$ smaller than the characteristic dipolar wavelength. We find that $a$ sets the scale that separates retarded, Casimir-Polder-like, from quasistatic, van der Waals-like, interactions. Whereas in the retarded regime, the energy decays exponentially with inter-dipolar distance, typical of evanescent waves, in the van der Waals regime, the known free-space result is obtained. This short-range scaling implies that the additivity of the dispersion interactions inside a waveguide extends to denser media, along with modifications to related Casimir effects in such structures.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Nonradiative interaction and entanglement between distant atoms

We show that nonradiative interactions between atomic dipoles placed in a waveguide can give rise to deterministic entanglement at ranges much larger than their resonant wavelength. The range increases as the dipole-resonance approaches the waveguide's cutoff frequency, caused by the giant density of photon modes near cutoff, a regime where the standard (perturbative) Markov approximation fails. We provide analytical theories for both the Markovian and non-Markovian regimes, supported by numerical simulations, and discuss possible experimental realizations.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2013

Engineering a thermal squeezed reservoir by system energy modulation

We show that a thermal reservoir can effectively act as a squeezed reservoir on atoms that are subject to energy-level modulation. For sufficiently fast and strong modulation, for which the rotating-wave-approximation is broken, the resulting squeezing persists at long times. These effects are analyzed by a master equation that is valid beyond the rotating wave approximation. As an example we consider a two-level-atom in a cavity with Lorentzian linewidth, subject to sinusoidal energy modulation. A possible realization of these effects is discussed for Rydberg atoms.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2010

Strongly interacting photons in hollow-core waveguides

Hollow-core photonic-crystal waveguides filled with cold atoms can support giant optical nonlinearities through nondispersive propagation of light tightly confined in the transverse direction. Here we explore electromagnetically induced transparency is such structures, considering a pair of counter-propagating weak quantum fields in the medium of coherently driven atoms in the ladder configuration. Strong dipole--dipole interactions between optically excited, polarized Rydberg states of the atoms translate into a large dispersive interaction between the two fields. This can be used to attain a spatially-homogeneous conditional phase shift of pi for two single-photon pulses, realizing a deterministic photonic phase gate, or to implement a quantum nondemolition measurement of the photon number in the signal pulse by a coherent probe, thereby achieving a heralded source of single or few photon pulses.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2009

Qubit Coherent Control with Squeezed Light Fields

We study the use of squeezed light for qubit coherent control and compare it with the coherent state control field case. We calculate the entanglement between a short pulse of resonant squeezed light and a two-level atom in free space and the resulting operation error. We find that the squeezing phase, the phase of the light field and the atomic superposition phase, all determine whether atom-pulse mode entanglement and the gate error are enhanced or suppressed. However, when averaged over all possible qubit initial states, the gate error would not decrease by a practicably useful amount and would in fact increase in most cases. We discuss the possibility of measuring the increased gate error as a signature of the enhancement of entanglement by squeezing.

quant-ph↗