arXiv subjects

Mikolaj K. Schmidt

Publications and source records attributed to Mikolaj K. Schmidt.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Three-Dimensional and Selective Displacement Sensing of a Levitated Nanoparticle via Spatial Mode Decomposition

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel detection method that significantly improves the precision of real-time measurement of the three-dimensional displacement of a levitated dipolar scatterer. Our technique relies on spatial mode sorting of the light scattered by the levitated object, allowing us to selectively extract the position information of all translational degrees of freedom with minimal losses. To this end, we collect all the light back-scattered from a levitated nanoparticle using a parabolic mirror and couple it into a spatial mode sorter. We measure displacement sensitivities ($\sqrt{S_{\mathrm{imp}, x}}, \sqrt{S_{\mathrm{imp}, y}}, \sqrt{S_{\mathrm{imp}, z}}$) $=$ (1.7, 2.4, 1.0) $\times$ $10^{-14}$ m/$\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ below the zero-point motion ($x_{\mathrm{zpm}}, y_{\mathrm{zpm}}, z_{\mathrm{zpm}}$) $=$ (2.2, 2.4, 1.6) $\times$ $10^{-12}$ m of the levitated particle considered here. In the regime where environmental decoherence is not limited by gas collision we estimate that our method can reach measurement efficiencies of $(η_{^{\mathrm{tot}}}^{_{x}}, η_{^{\mathrm{tot}}}^{_{y}}, η_{^{\mathrm{tot}}}^{_{z}}) = (0.13, 0.18, 0.33) > 1/9$, which would enable the 3D motional quantum ground state of a levitated optomechanical system.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2025

Quantum-enabled optical large-baseline interferometry: applications, protocols and feasibility

Optical Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) offers the potential for unprecedented angular resolution in both astronomical imaging and precision measurements. Classical approaches, however, face significant limitations due to photon loss, background noise, and the requirements for dynamical delay lines over large distances. This document surveys recent developments in quantum-enabled VLBI, which aim to address these challenges using entanglement-assisted protocols, quantum memory storage, and nonlocal measurement techniques. While its application to astronomy is well known, we also examine how these techniques may be extended to geodesy -- specifically, the monitoring of Earth's rotation. Particular attention is given to quantum-enhanced telescope architectures, including repeater-based long baseline interferometry and quantum error-corrected encoding schemes, which offer a pathway toward high-fidelity optical VLBI. To aid the discussion, we also compare specifications for key enabling technologies to current state-of-the-art experimental components, including switching rates, gate times, entanglement distribution rates, and memory lifetimes. By integrating quantum technologies, future interferometric networks may achieve diffraction-limited imaging at optical and near-infrared wavelengths, surpassing the constraints of classical techniques and enabling new precision tests of astrophysical and fundamental physics phenomena.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Molecular optomechanics with atomic antennas

A typical surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) system relies on deeply subwavelength field localization in nanoscale plasmonic cavities to enhance both the excitation and emission of Raman-active molecules. Here, we demonstrate that a germanium-vacancy (GeV) defect in diamond can efficiently mediate the excitation process, by acting as a bright atomic antenna. At low temperatures, the GeV's low dissipation allows it to be efficiently populated by the incident field, resulting in a thousand-fold increase in the efficiency of Raman scattering. We show that atomic antenna-enhanced Raman scattering can be distinguished from conventional SERS by tracing the dependence of Stokes intensity on input power.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Generation of polarization-entangled counter-propagating photons with high orbital angular momentum

Spin and orbital angular momenta of light are attractive resources to harness for encoding, and manipulating information, with applications in various quantum photonic technologies. However, to fully harness that potential, we require robust sources of high-order angular momentum photons exhibiting nonclassical correlations. Here we propose a fiber-based source of polarization-entangled photons in high-order orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. In our setup the pairs or photons are generated in a cylindrical fiber through a four-wave mixing process, which induces polarization, or spin entanglement. The photons are then converted to modes exhibiting large OAM by the two helical gratings inscribed in the core of the fiber. We present a complete theoretical framework used to consistently describe this process, and demonstrate a robust control over the joint spectral amplitude of the generated photons.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Brillouin light storage for 100 pulse widths

Signal processing based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is limited by the narrow linewidth of the optoacoustic response, which confines many Brillouin applications to continuous wave signals or optical pulses longer than several nanoseconds. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate Brillouin interactions at the 150 ps time scale and a delay for a record 15 ns which corresponds to a delay of 100 pulse widths. This breakthrough experimental result was enabled by the high local gain of the chalcogenide waveguides as the optoacoustic interaction length reduces with pulse width. We successfully transfer 150ps-long pulses to traveling acoustic waves within a Brillouin-based memory setup. The information encoded in the optical pulses is stored for 15 ns in the acoustic field. We show the retrieval of eight amplitude levels, multiple consecutive pulses and low distortion in pulse shape. The extension of Brillouin-based storage to the ultra-short pulse regime is an important step for the realisation of practical Brillouin-based delay lines and other optical processing applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

Probing the electromagnetic response of dielectric antennas by vortex electron beams

Focused beams of electrons, which act as both sources, and sensors of electric fields, can be used to characterise the electric response of complex photonic systems by locally probing the induced optical near fields. This functionality can be complemented by embracing the recently developed vortex electron beams (VEBs), made up of electrons with orbital angular momentum, which could, in addition, probe induced magnetic near fields. In this work, we revisit the theoretical description of this technique, dubbed vortex Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy (v-EELS). We map the fundamental, quantum-mechanical picture of the scattering of the VEB electrons to the intuitive classical models, which treat the electron beams as a superposition of linear electric and magnetic currents. We then apply this formalism to characterise the optical response of dielectric nanoantennas with v-EELS. Our calculations reveal that VEB electrons probe electric or magnetic modes with different efficiency, which can be adjusted by changing either beam vorticity or acceleration voltage to determine the nature of the probed excitations. We also study a chirally-arranged nanostructure, which in the interaction with electron vortices produces dichroism in electron energy loss spectra. Our theoretical work establishes VEBs as versatile probes that could provide information on optical excitations otherwise inaccessible with conventional electron beams.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

Numerical Simulation of Noise in Pulsed Brillouin Scattering

We present a numerical method for modelling noise in Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS). The model applies to dynamic cases such as optical pulses, and accounts for both thermal noise and phase noise from the input lasers. Using this model, we compute the statistical properties of the optical and acoustic power in the pulsed spontaneous and stimulated Brillouin cases, and investigate the effects of gain and pulse width on noise levels. We find that thermal noise plays an important role in the statistical properties of the fields, and that laser phase noise impacts the SBS interaction when the laser coherence time is close to the time-scale of the optical pulses. This algorithm is applicable to arbitrary waveguide geometries and material properties, and thus presents a versatile way of performing noise-based SBS numerical simulations, which are important in signal processing, sensing, microwave photonics and opto-acoustic memory storage.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2016

QED description of Raman scattering from molecules in plasmonic cavities

Plasmon-enhanced Raman scattering can push single-molecule vibrational spectroscopy beyond a regime addressable by classical electrodynamics. We employ a quantum electrodynamics (QED) description of the coherent interaction of plasmons and molecular vibrations that reveal the emergence of nonlinearities in the inelastic response of the system. For realistic situations, we predict the onset of \textit{phonon-stimulated Raman scattering} and an counter-intuitive dependence of the anti-Stokes emission on the frequency of excitation. We further show that this novel QED framework opens a venue to analyze the correlations of photons emitted at a plasmonic cavity

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Isotropically polarized speckle patterns

The polarization of the light scattered by an optically dense, random solution of dielectric nanoparticles shows peculiar properties when the scatterers exhibit strong electric and magnetic polarizabilities. While the distribution of the scattering intensity in these systems shows the typical irregular speckle patterns, the helicity of the incident light can be fully conserved when the electric and magnetic polarizabilities of the scatterers are equal. We show that the multiple scattering of helical beams by a random dispersion of "dual" dipolar nano-spheres leads to a speckle pattern exhibiting a perfect isotropic constant polarization, a situation that could be useful in coherent control of light as well as in lasing in random media.

physics.optics↗