arXiv subjects

M. G. Raymer

Publications and source records attributed to M. G. Raymer.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Photon wave functions, wave-packet quantization of light, and coherence theory

The monochromatic Dirac and polychromatic Titulaer-Glauber quantized field theories (QFTs) of electromagnetism are derived from a photon-energy wave function in much the same way that one derives QFT for electrons, that is, by quantization of a single-particle wave function. The photon wave function and its equation of motion are established from the Einstein energy-momentum-mass relation, assuming a local energy density. This yields a theory of photon wave mechanics (PWM). The proper Lorentz-invariant single-photon scalar product is found to be non-local in coordinate space, and is shown to correspond to orthogonalization of the Titulaer-Glauber wave-packet modes. The wave functions of PWM and mode functions of QFT are shown to be equivalent, evolving via identical equations of motion, and completely describe photonic states. We generalize PWM to two or more photons, and show how to switch between the PWM and QFT viewpoints. The second-order coherence tensors of classical coherence theory and the two-photon wave functions are shown to propagate equivalently. We give examples of beam-like states, which can be used as photon wave functions in PWM, or modes in QFT. We propose a practical mode converter based on spectral filtering to convert between wave packets and their corresponding biorthogonal dual wave packets.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Photon pair-state preparation with tailored spectral properties by spontaneous four-wave mixing in photonic-crystal fiber

We study theoretically the generation of photon pairs by spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) in photonic crystal optical fiber. We show that it is possible to engineer two-photon states with specific spectral correlation (``entanglement'') properties suitable for quantum information processing applications. We focus on the case exhibiting no spectral correlations in the two-photon component of the state, which we call factorability, and which allows heralding of single-photon pure-state wave packets without the need for spectral post filtering. We show that spontaneous four wave mixing exhibits a remarkable flexibility, permitting a wider class of two-photon states, including ultra-broadband, highly-anticorrelated states.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Mesoscopic entanglement of atomic ensembles through non-resonant stimulated Raman scattering

We propose a scheme of generating and verifying mesoscopic-level entanglement between two atomic ensembles using non-resonant stimulated Raman scattering. Entanglement can be generated by direct detection or balanced homodyne detection of the Stokes fields from the two cells, after they interfere on a beam splitter. The entanglement of the collective atomic fields can be transferred to the anti-Stokes fields in a readout process. By measuring the operator moments of the anti-Stokes fields, we can verify the presence of entanglement. We model the effects of practical factors such as Stokes field detector quantum efficiency and additive thermal noise in the entanglement generating process, and anti-Stokes field losses in the entanglement verification process, and find achievable regimes in which entanglement can be verified at the levels of tens to hundreds of atomic excitations in the ensembles.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2007

Two-photon wave mechanics

The position-representation wave function for multi-photon states and its equation of motion are introduced. A major strength of the theory is that it describes the complete evolution (including polarization and entanglement) of multi-photon states propagating through inhomogeneous media. As a demonstration of the two-photon wave function's use, we show how two photons in an orbital-angular-momentum entangled state decohere upon propagation through a turbulent atmosphere.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Slow Light Propagation in a Linear-Response Three-Level Atomic Vapor

We observe pulse delays of up to twenty times the input pulse duration when 200-ps laser pulses pass through a hot Rb 85 vapor cell. The pulse peak travels with a velocity equal to c/20, and the energy transmission is 5%. For pulses with linewidth greater than typical features in the atomic dispersion, pulse delay is predicted and observed for all center frequencies near resonance. Pulse advance is never observed. The measurements are in good agreement with a three-level linear-dispersion calculation. We are able to control the amount of delay by using a steady-state laser beam for optical pumping of the ground states prior to sending in the test pulse.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2006

Modematching an optical quantum memory

We analyse the off-resonant Raman interaction of a single broadband photon, copropagating with a classical `control' pulse, with an atomic ensemble. It is shown that the classical electrodynamical structure of the interaction guarantees canonical evolution of the quantum mechanical field operators. This allows the interaction to be decomposed as a beamsplitter transformation between optical and material excitations on a mode-by-mode basis. A single, dominant modefunction describes the dynamics for arbitrary control pulse shapes. Complete transfer of the quantum state of the incident photon to a collective dark state within the ensemble can be achieved by shaping the control pulse so as to match the dominant mode to the temporal mode of the photon. Readout of the material excitation, back to the optical field, is considered in the context of the symmetry connecting the input and output modes. Finally, we show that the transverse spatial structure of the interaction is characterised by the same mode decomposition.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

The Maxwell wave function of the photon

James Clerk Maxwell unknowingly discovered a correct relativistic, quantum theory for the light quantum, forty-three years before Einstein postulated the photon's existence. In this theory, the usual Maxwell field is the quantum wave function for a single photon. When the non-operator Maxwell field of a single photon is second quantized, the standard Dirac theory of quantum optics is obtained. Recently, quantum-state tomography has been applied to experimentally determine photon wave functions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

A hemispherical, high-solid-angle optical micro-cavity for cavity-QED studies

We report a novel hemispherical micro-cavity that is comprised of a planar integrated semiconductor distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirror, and an external, concave micro-mirror having a radius of curvature $50\mathrm{μm}$. The integrated DBR mirror containing quantum dots (QD), is designed to locate the QDs at an antinode of the field in order to maximize the interaction between the QD and the cavity. The concave micro-mirror, with high-reflectivity over a large solid-angle, creates a diffraction-limited (sub-micron) mode-waist at the planar mirror, leading to a large coupling constant between cavity mode and QD. The half-monolithic design gives more spatial and spectral tuning abilities, relatively to fully monolithic structures. This unique micro-cavity design will potentially enable us to both reach the cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) strong coupling regime and realize the deterministic generation of single photons on demand.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2006

Quantum efficiency of single-photon sources in the cavity-QED strong-coupling regime

We calculate the integrated-pulse quantum efficiency of single-photon sources in the cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) strong-coupling regime. An analytical expression for the quantum efficiency is obtained in the Weisskopf-Wigner approximation. Optimal conditions for a high quantum efficiency and a temporally localized photon emission rate are examined. We show the condition under which the earlier result of Law and Kimble [J. Mod. Opt. 44, 2067 (1997)] can be used as the first approximation to our result.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Pairwise entanglement and readout of atomic-ensemble and optical wave-packet modes in traveling-wave Raman interactions

We analyze quantum entanglement of Stokes light and atomic electronic polarization excited during single-pass, linear-regime, stimulated Raman scattering in terms of optical wave-packet modes and atomic-ensemble spatial modes. The output of this process is confirmed to be decomposable into multiple discrete, bosonic mode pairs, each pair undergoing independent evolution into a two-mode squeezed state. For this we extend the Bloch-Messiah reduction theorem, previously known for discrete linear systems (S. L. Braunstein, Phys. Rev. A, vol. 71, 055801 (2005)). We present typical mode functions in the case of one-dimensional scattering in an atomic vapor. We find that in the absence of dispersion, one mode pair dominates the process, leading to a simple interpretation of entanglement in this continuous-variable system. However, many mode pairs are excited in the presence of dispersion-induced temporal walkoff of the Stokes, as witnessed by the photon-count statistics. We also consider the readout of the stored atomic polarization using the anti-Stokes scattering process. We prove that the readout process can also be decomposed into multiple mode pairs, each pair undergoing independent evolution analogous to a beam-splitter transformation. We show that this process can have unit efficiency under realistic experimental conditions. The shape of the output light wave packet can be predicted. In case of unit readout efficiency it contains only excitations originating from a specified atomic excitation mode.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Measurement of the transverse spatial quantum state of light at the single-photon level

We present an experimental method to measure the transverse spatial quantum state of an optical field in coordinate space at the single-photon level. The continuous-variable measurements are made with a photon-counting, parity-inverting Sagnac interferometer based on all-reflecting optics. The technique provides a large numerical aperture without distorting the shape of the wave front, does not introduce astigmatism, and allows for characterization of fully or partially coherent optical fields at the single-photon level. Measurements of the transverse spatial Wigner functions for highly attenuated coherent beams are presented and compared to theoretical predictions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2005

Pure-state single-photon wave-packet generation by parametric down conversion in a distributed microcavity

We propose an optical parametric down conversion (PDC) scheme that does not suffer a trade-off between the state-purity of single-photon wave-packets and the rate of packet production. This is accomplished by modifying the PDC process by using a microcavity to engineer the density of states of the optical field at the PDC frequencies. The high-finesse cavity mode occupies a spectral interval much narrower than the bandwidth of the pulsed pump laser field, suppressing the spectral correlation, or entanglement, between signal and idler photons. Spectral filtering of the field occurs prior to photon creation rather than afterward as in most other schemes. Operator-Maxwell equations are solved to find the Schmidt-mode decomposition of the two-photon states produced. Greater than 99% pure-state packet production is predicted to be achievable.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2002

Separability criterion for separate quantum systems

Entanglement, or quantum inseparability, is a crucial resource in quantum information applications, and therefore the experimental generation of separated yet entangled systems is of paramount importance. Experimental demonstrations of inseparability with light are not uncommon, but such demonstrations in physically well-separated massive systems, such as distinct gases of atoms, are new and present significant challenges and opportunities. Rigorous theoretical criteria are needed for demonstrating that given data are sufficient to confirm entanglement. Such criteria for experimental data have been derived for the case of continuous-variable systems obeying the Heisenberg-Weyl (position- momentum) commutator. To address the question of experimental verification more generally, we develop a sufficiency criterion for arbitrary states of two arbitrary systems. When applied to the recent study by Julsgaard, Kozhekin, and Polzik [Nature 413, 400 - 403 (2001)] of spin-state entanglement of two separate, macroscopic samples of atoms, our new criterion confirms the presence of spin entanglement.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2001

Quantum key distribution using non-classical photon number correlations in macroscopic light pulses

We propose a new scheme for quantum key distribution using macroscopic non-classical pulses of light having of the order 10^6 photons per pulse. Sub-shot-noise quantum correlation between the two polarization modes in a pulse gives the necessary sensitivity to eavesdropping that ensures the security of the protocol. We consider pulses of two-mode squeezed light generated by a type-II seeded parametric amplification process. We analyze the security of the system in terms of the effect of an eavesdropper on the bit error rates for the legitimate parties in the key distribution system. We also consider the effects of imperfect detectors and lossy channels on the security of the scheme.

quant-ph↗