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K. Dechoum

Publications and source records attributed to K. Dechoum.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Radial-angular coupling in self phase modulation with structured light

In this work we study the evolution of an optical vortex undergoing self phase modulation inside a nonlinear Kerr medium. The intensity dependent phase evolution couples the angular and radial degrees of freedom of the input vortex, giving rise to a rich dynamics where new radial modes are created. In the short propagation range, this dynamics is well described by a perturbative approach, predicting the generation of modes with radial numbers between zero and the absolute value of the vortex topological charge. This prediction is confirmed by numerical simulations of the nonlinear propagation equation.

physics.optics

Spin to orbital angular momentum transfer in nonlinear wave mixing

We demonstrate the spin to orbital angular momentum transfer in the nonlinear mixing of structured light beams. A vector vortex is coupled to a circularly polarized Gaussian beam in noncollinear second harmonic generation under type-II phase match. The second harmonic beam inherits the Hermite-Gaussian components of the vector vortex, however, the relative phase between them is determined by the polarization state of the Gaussian beam. This effect creates an interesting crosstalk between spin and orbital degrees of freedom, allowing the angular momentum transfer between them. Our experimental results match the theoretical predictions for the nonlinear optical response.

physics.optics

Bell inequality violation and operator ordering in quantum theory

We investigate the role played by quantum operator ordering in the correlations that characterize two-photon polarization Bell measurements. The Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt (CHSH) criterion is investigated in the normal ordering imposed by the photodetection theory and in the symmetric ordering that constitutes the standard prescription for building Hermitian operators from products of noncommuting observables. The two approaches are obtained in a single theoretical framework, where operator ordering is directly associated with the representation used for the density matrix.Moreover, this discussion can be recast in terms of the contribution given by the vacuum fluctuations to the detected signals. We also envisage possible detection schemes sensitive to these fluctuations with recent technological developments.

quant-ph

Two-well atomic Bose-Hubbard analogues of optical cavities

We propose and analyse analogs of optical cavities for atoms using two-well Bose-Hubbard models with pumping and losses. With one well pumped, we find that both the mean-field dynamics and the quantum statistics show a quantitative dependence on the choice of damped well. Both the systems we analyse remain far from equilibrium, preserving good coherence between the wells in the steady-state. We find a small degree of quadrature squeezing and mode entanglement for some parameter regimes. Due to recent experimental advances, it should be possible to demonstrate the effects we investigate and predict.

quant-ph

Quantum and classical separability of spin-orbit laser modes

In this work we investigate the quantum noise properties of polarization vortices in connection with an intensity based Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality for their spin-orbit separability. We evaluate the inequality for different input quantum states and the corresponding intensity fluctuations. The roles played by coherence and photon number squeezing provide a suitable framework for characterizing pure state spin-orbit entanglement. Structural inseparability of the spin-orbit mode requires coherence, an issue concerning either classical or quantum descriptions. In both cases, it can be witnessed by violation of this intensity based CHSH inequality. However, in the quantum domain, entanglement requires both coherence and reduced photon number fluctuations.

quant-ph

Semiclassical Wigner distribution for two-mode entangled state

We derive the steady state solution of the Fokker-Planck equation that describes the dynamics of the nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator in the truncated Wigner representation of the density operator. We assume that the pump mode is strongly damped, which permits its adiabatic elimination. When the elimination is correctly executed, the resulting stochastic equations contain multiplicative noise terms, and do not admit a potential solution. However, we develop an heuristic scheme leading to a satisfactory steady-state solution. This provides a clear view of the intracavity two-mode entangled state valid in all operating regimes of the OPO. A nongaussian distribution is obtained for the above threshold solution.

quant-ph

Cauchy-Schwarz characterization of tripartite quantum correlations in an optical parametric oscillator

We analyze the three-mode correlation properties of the electromagnetic field in a optical parametric oscillator below threshold. We employ a perturbative expansion of the Itô equations derived from the positive-P representation of the density matrix. Using the generalized Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, we investigate the genuine quantum nature of the triple correlations between the interacting fields, since in this case continuous variable entanglement is not detected by the van Loock-Furusawa criterion [Phys. Rev. A {\bf 67}, 052315 (2003)]. Although not being a necessary condition, these triple correlations are a sufficient evidence of tripartite entanglement. Of course, our characterization of the quantum correlations is applicable to non-Gaussian states, which we show to be the case of the optical parametric oscillator below threshold, provided nonlinear quantum fluctuations are properly taken into account.

quant-ph

Semiclassical Wigner distribution for two-mode entangled state generated by an optical parametric oscillator

We derive the steady state solution of the Fokker-Planck equation that describes the dynamics of the nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator in the truncated Wigner representation of the density operator. The adiabatic limit of strong pump damping is assumed. This phase space image provides a clear view of the intracavity two-mode entangled state valid in all operating regimes of the OPO. A nongaussian distribution is obtained for the above threshold solution.

quant-ph

Optical parametric oscillation under injection of orbital angular momentum

We present a theoretical model for the spatial mode dynamics of an optical parametric oscillator under injection of orbital angular momentum. This process is then interpreted in terms of an interesting picture based on a Poincare representation of first order spatial modes. The spatial properties of the down-converted fields can be easily understood from their symmetries in this geometric representation. By considering the adiabatic mode conversion of the injected signal, we also predict the occurrence of a geometric phase conjugation in the down-converted beams. An experimental setup to measure this effect is proposed.

quant-ph

Universal and nonuniversal features in the crossover from linear to nonlinear interface growth

We study a restricted solid-on-solid (RSOS) model involving deposition and evaporation with probabilities p and 1-p, respectively, in one-dimensional substrates. It presents a crossover from Edwards-Wilkinson (EW) to Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) scaling for p~0.5. The associated KPZ equation is analytically derived, exhibiting a coefficient lambda of the nonlinear term proportional to q=p-1/2, which is confirmed numerically by calculation of tilt-dependent growth velocities for several values of p. This linear λ-q relation contrasts to the apparently universal parabolic law obtained in competitive models mixing EW and KPZ components. The regions where the interface roughness shows pure EW and KPZ scaling are identified for 0.55<=p<=0.8, which provides numerical estimates of the crossover times t_c. They scale as t_c ~ lambda^(-phi) with phi=4.1+-0.1, which is in excellent agreement with the theoretically predicted universal value phi=4 and improves previous numerical estimates, which suggested phi~3.

cond-mat.stat-mech

Quantum analysis of the nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator with injected signal

In this paper we study the nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator with injected signal, both analytically and numerically. We develop a perturbation approach which allows us to find approximate analytical solutions, starting from the full equations of motion in the positive P-representation. We demonstrate the regimes of validity of our approximations via comparison with the full stochastic results. We and that, with reasonably low levels of injected signal, the system allows for demonstrations of quantum entanglement and the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox. In contrast to the normal optical parametric oscillator operating below threshold, these features are demonstrated with relatively intense felds.

quant-ph

Quantum phase-space analysis of the pendular cavity

We perform a quantum mechanical analysis of the pendular cavity, using the positive-P representation, showing that the quantum state of the moving mirror, a macroscopic object, has noticeable effects on the dynamics. This system has previously been proposed as a candidate for the quantum-limited measurement of small displacements of the mirror due to radiation pressure, for the production of states with entanglement between the mirror and the field, and even for superposition states of the mirror. However, when we treat the oscillating mirror quantum mechanically, we find that it always oscillates, has no stationary steady-state, and exhibits uncertainties in position and momentum which are typically larger than the mean values. This means that previous linearised fluctuation analyses which have been used to predict these highly quantum states are of limited use. We find that the achievable accuracy in measurement is far worse than the standard quantum limit due to thermal noise, which, for typical experimental parameters, is overwhelming even at 2 mK.

quant-ph

Critical fluctuations and entanglement in the nondegenerate parametric oscillator

We present a fully quantum mechanical treatment of the nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator both below and near threshold. This is a non-equilibrium quantum system with a critical point phase-transition, that is also known to exhibit strong yet easily observed squeezing and quantum entanglement. Our treatment makes use of the positive P-representation and goes beyond the usual linearized theory. We compare our analytical results with numerical simulations and find excellent agreement. We also carry out a detailed comparison of our results with those obtained from stochastic electrodynamics, a theory obtained by truncating the equation of motion for the Wigner function, with a view to locating regions of agreement and disagreement between the two. We calculate commonly used measures of quantum behavior including entanglement, squeezing and EPR correlations as well as higher order tripartite correlations, and show how these are modified as the critical point is approached. In general, the critical fluctuations represent an ultimate limit to the possible entanglement that can be achieved in a nondegenerate parametric oscillator.

quant-ph

Limits to squeezing in the degenerate OPO

We develop a systematic theory of quantum fluctuations in the driven parametric oscillator (OPO), including the region near threshold. This allows us to treat the limits imposed by nonlinearities to quantum squeezing and noise reduction, in this non-equilibrium quantum phase-transition. In particular, we compute the squeezing spectrum near threshold, and calculate the optimum value. We find that the optimal noise reduction occurs at different driving fields, depending on the ratio of damping rates. The largest spectral noise reductions are predicted to occur with a very high-Q second-harmonic cavity. Our analytic results agree well with stochastic numerical simulations. We also compare the results obtained in the positive-P representation, as a fully quantum mechanical calculation, with the truncated Wigner phase space equation, also known as semiclassical theory.

quant-ph