arXiv subjects

Theocharis Lamprou

Publications and source records attributed to Theocharis Lamprou.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Nonlinear optics using intense optical coherent state superpositions

Superpositions of coherent light states, are vital for quantum technologies. However, restrictions in existing state preparation and characterization schemes, in combination with decoherence effects, prevent their intensity enhancement and implementation in nonlinear optics. Here, by developing a decoherence--free approach, we generate intense femtosecond--duration infrared coherent state superpositions (CSS) with a mean photon number orders of magnitude higher than the existing CSS sources. We utilize them in nonlinear optics to drive the second harmonic generation process in an optical crystal. We experimentally and theoretically show that the non--classical nature of the intense infrared CSS is imprinted in the second-order autocorrelation traces. Additionally, theoretical analysis shows that the quantum features of the infrared CSS are also present in the generated second harmonic. The findings introduce the optical CSS into the realm of nonlinear quantum optics, opening up new paths in quantum information science and quantum light engineering by creating non-classical light states in various spectral regions via non-linear up-conversion processes.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2024

Nonclassical states of light after high-harmonic generation in semiconductors: a Bloch-based perspective

High-harmonic generation has emerged as a pivotal process in strong-field physics, yielding extreme ultraviolet radiation and attosecond pulses with a wide range of applications. Furthermore, its emergent connection with the field of quantum optics has revealed its potential for generating non-classical states of light. Here, we investigate the process of high-harmonic generation in semiconductors under a quantum optical perspective while using a Bloch-based solid-state description. Through the implementation of quantum operations based on the measurement of high-order harmonics, we demonstrate the generation of non-classical light states similar to those found when driving atomic systems. These states are characterized using diverse quantum optical observables and quantum information measures, showing the influence of electron dynamics on their properties. Additionally, we analyze the dependence of their features on solid characteristics such as the dephasing time and crystal orientation, while also assessing their sensitivity to changes in driving field strength. This study provides insights into HHG in semiconductors and its potential for generating non-classical light sources.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Entanglement and squeezing of the optical field modes in high harmonic generation

Squeezing of optical fields, used as a powerful resource for many applications, and the radiation properties in the process of high harmonic generation have thus far been considered separately. In this Letter, we want to clarify that the joint quantum state of all the optical field modes in the process of high harmonic generation is in general entangled and squeezed. We show that this is already the case in the simplest scenario of driving uncorrelated atoms by a classical laser light field. The previous observation of product coherent states after the high harmonic generation process is a consequence of the assumption that the ground state depletion can be neglected, which is related to vanishing dipole moment correlations. Furthermore, we analyze how the resulting quadrature squeezing in the fundamental laser mode after the interaction can be controlled and explicitly show that all field modes are entangled.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Entanglement and non-classical states of light in a strong-laser driven solid-state system

The development of sources delivering non-classical states of light is one of the main needs for applications of optical quantum information science. Here, we demonstrate the generation of non-classical states of light using strong-laser fields driving a solid-state system, by using the process of high-order harmonic generation, where an electron tunnels out of the parent site and, later on, recombines on it emitting high-order harmonic radiation, at the expense of affecting the driving laser field. Since in solid-state systems the recombination of the electron can be delocalized along the material, the final state of the electron determines how the electromagnetic field gets affected because of the laser-matter interaction, leading to the generation of entanglement between the electron and the field. These features can be enhanced by applying conditioning operations, i.e., quantum operations based on the measurement of high-harmonic radiation. We study non-classical features present in the final quantum optical state, and characterize the amount of entanglement between the light and the electrons in the solid. The work sets the foundation for the development of compact solid-state-based non-classical light sources using strong-field physics.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Strong laser physics, non-classical light states and quantum information science

Strong laser physics is a research direction that relies on the use of high-power lasers and has led to fascinating achievements ranging from relativistic particle acceleration to attosecond science. On the other hand, quantum optics has been built on the use of low photon number sources and has opened the way for groundbreaking discoveries in quantum technology, advancing investigations ranging from fundamental tests of quantum theory to quantum information processing. Despite the tremendous progress, until recently these directions have remained disconnected. This is because, the majority of the interactions in the strong-field limit have been successfully described by semi-classical approximations treating the electromagnetic field classically, as there was no need to include the quantum properties of the field to explain the observations. The link between strong laser physics, quantum optics, and quantum information science has been developed in the recent past. Studies based on fully quantized and conditioning approaches have shown that intense laser--matter interactions can be used for the generation of controllable entangled and non-classical light states. This achievement opens the way for a vast number of investigations stemming from the symbiosis of strong laser physics, quantum optics, and quantum information science. Here, after an introduction to the fundamentals of these research directions, we report on the recent progress in the fully quantized description of intense laser--matter interaction and the methods that have been developed for the generation of non-classical light states and entangled states. Also, we discuss the future directions of non-classical light engineering using strong laser fields, and the potential applications in ultrafast and quantum information science.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2023

Quantum electrodynamics of intense laser-matter interactions: A tool for quantum state engineering

Intense laser-matter interactions are at the center of interest in research and technology since the development of high power lasers. They have been widely used for fundamental studies in atomic, molecular, and optical physics, and they are at the core of attosecond physics and ultrafast opto-electronics. Although the majority of these studies have been successfully described using classical electromagnetic fields, recent investigations based on fully quantized approaches have shown that intense laser-atom interactions can be used for the generation of controllable high-photon-number entangled coherent states and coherent state superpositions. In this tutorial, we provide a comprehensive fully quantized description of intense laser-atom interactions. We elaborate on the processes of high harmonic generation, above-threshold-ionization, and we discuss new phenomena that cannot be revealed within the context of semi-classical theories. We provide the description for conditioning the light field on different electronic processes, and their consequences for quantum state engineering of light. Finally, we discuss the extension of the approach to more complex materials, and the impact to quantum technologies for a new photonic platform composed by the symbiosis of attosecond physics and quantum information science.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Generation of micro-Joule level coherent quasi-continuum extreme ultraviolet radiation using multi-cycle intense laser-atom interactions

In the present work we report on the current progress of the recently constructed GW attosecond extreme ultraviolet (XUV) source developed at the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (I.E.S.L-FO.R.T.H.). By the implementation of a compact-collinear polarization gating arrangement, the generation of a broadband, coherent XUV quasi-continuum produced by the interaction of a many-cycle infrared field with a gas phase medium is achieved. The spectral width of the XUV emission generated in Xenon, is spanning in the range of 17-32 eV and can support isolated pulses of duration in the range from 0.4 fs to 1.3 fs and pulse energy in the 1 μJ level.Theoretical calculations, taking into account the experimental conditions of this work, are supporting the observations, offering also an insight regarding the temporal profile of the emitted radiation. Finally, the high intensity of the produced XUV pulses has been confirmed by investigating the two-XUV-photon double ionization process of Argon atoms. The demonstrated results inaugurate the capability of the beamline to produce intense isolated attosecond pulses towards their exploitation in studies of non-linear XUV processes, attosecond pulse metrology and XUV pump XUV probe experiments.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2022

Strong laser fields and their power to generate controllable high-photon-number coherent-state superpositions

Recently, intensely driven laser-matter interactions have been used to connect the fields of strong laser field physics with quantum optics by generating non-classical states of light. Here, we make a further key step and show the potential of strong laser fields for generating controllable high-photon-number coherent-state superpositions. This has been achieved by using two of the most prominent strong-laser induced processes: high-harmonic generation and above-threshold ionization. We show how the obtained coherent-state superpositions change from an optical Schrödinger "cat" state to a "kitten" state by changing the atomic density in the laser-atom interaction region, and we demonstrate the generation of a 9-photon shifted optical "cat" state which, to our knowledge, is the highest photon number optical "cat" state experimentally reported. Our findings anticipate the development of new methods that naturally lead to the creation of high-photon-number controllable coherent-state superpositions, advancing investigations in quantum technology.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Light-matter entanglement after above-threshold ionization processes in atoms

Light-matter entanglement plays a fundamental role in many applications of quantum information science. Thus, finding processes where it can be observed is an important task. Here, we address this matter by theoretically investigating the entanglement between light and electrons generated in above-threshold ionization (ATI) process. The study is based on the back-action of the ATI process on the quantum optical state of the system, and its dependence on the kinetic energy and direction of the emitted photoelectrons. Taking into account the dynamics of the process, we demonstrate the creation of hybrid entangled states. The amount of entanglement has been studied in terms of the entropy of entanglement. Additionally, we use the Wigner function of the driving field mode to motivate the entanglement characterization when considering electrons propagating in opposite directions.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

High photon number entangled states and coherent state superposition from the extreme-ultraviolet to the far infrared

We present a theoretical demonstration on the generation of entangled coherent states and of coherent state superpositions, with photon numbers and frequencies orders of magnitude higher than those provided by the current technology. This is achieved by utilizing a quantum mechanical multimode description of the single- and two-color intense laser field driven process of high harmonic generation in atoms. It is found that all field modes involved in the high harmonic generation process are entangled, and upon performing a quantum operation, leads to the generation of high photon number optical cat states spanning from the far infrared to the extreme-ultraviolet spectral region. This provides direct insights into the quantum mechanical properties of the optical field in intense laser matter interaction. Finally, these states can be considered as a new resource for fundamental tests of quantum theory, quantum information processing or sensing with non-classical states of light.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Generation of optical Schrödinger cat states in intense laser-matter interactions

The physics of intense laser-matter interactions is described by treating the light pulses classically, anticipating no need to access optical measurements beyond the classical limit. However, the quantum nature of the electromagnetic fields is always present. Here, we demonstrate that intense laser-atom interactions may lead to the generation of highly non-classical light states. This was achieved by using the process of high-harmonic generation in atoms, in which the photons of a driving laser pulse of infrared frequency are up-converted into photons of higher frequencies in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. The quantum state of the fundamental mode after the interaction, when conditioned on the high-harmonic generation, is a so-called Schrödinger cat state, which corresponds to a superposition of two distinct coherent states: the initial state of the laser and the coherent state reduced in amplitude that results from the interaction with atoms. The results open the path for investigations towards the control of the non-classical states, exploiting conditioning approaches on physical processes relevant to high-harmonic generation.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2021

New schemes for creating large optical Schrodinger cat states using strong laser fields

Recently, using conditioning approaches on the high-harmonic generation process induced by intense laser-atom interactions, we have developed a new method for the generation of optical Schrödinger cat states (M. Lewenstein et al., arXiv:2008.10221 (2020)). These quantum optical states have been proven to be very manageable as, by modifying the conditions under which harmonics are generated, one can interplay between $\textit{kitten}$ and $\textit{genuine cat}$ states. Here, we demonstrate that this method can also be used for the development of new schemes towards the creation of optical Schrödinger cat states, consisting of the superposition of three distinct coherent states. Apart from the interest these kind of states have on their own, we additionally propose a scheme for using them towards the generation of large cat states involving the sum of two different coherent states. The quantum properties of the obtained superpositions aim to significantly increase the applicability of optical Schrödinger cat states for quantum technology and quantum information processing.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

Quantum-Optical Spectrometry in Relativistic Laser-Plasma Interactions Using the High-Harmonic Generation Process: A Proposal

Quantum-optical spectrometry is a recently developed shot-to-shot photon correlation-based method, namely using a quantum spectrometer (QS), that has been used to reveal the quantum optical nature of intense laser-matter interactions and connect the research domains of quantum optics (QO) and strong laser-field physics (SLFP). The method provides the probability of absorbing photons from a driving laser field towards the generation of a strong laser-field interaction product, such as high-order harmonics. In this case, the harmonic spectrum is reflected in the photon number distribution of the infrared (IR) driving field after its interaction with the high harmonic generation medium. The method was implemented in non-relativistic interactions using high harmonics produced by the interaction of strong laser pulses with atoms and semiconductors. Very recently, it was used for the generation of non-classical light states in intense laser-atom interaction, building the basis for studies of quantum electrodynamics in strong laser-field physics and the development of a new class of non-classical light sources for applications in quantum technology. Here, after a brief introduction of the QS method, we will discuss how the QS can be applied in relativistic laser-plasma interactions and become the driving factor for initiating investigations on relativistic quantum electrodynamics.

physics.optics↗