Polarization-Selective Out-Coupling of Whispering-Gallery Modes
Florian Sedlmeir,
Matthew R. Foreman,
Ulrich Vogl,
Richard Zeltner,
Gerhard Schunk,
Dmitry V. Strekalov,
Christoph Marquardt,
Gerd Leuchs,
Harald G. L. Schwefel
Whispering-gallery mode (WGM) resonators are an important platform for linear, nonlinear, and quantum optical experiments. In such experiments, independent control of in-coupling and out-coupling rates to different modes can lead to higher conversion efficiencies and greater flexibility in the generation of nonclassical states based on parametric down-conversion. In this work, we introduce a scheme that enables selective out-coupling of WGMs belonging to a specific polarization family, while the orthogonally polarized modes remain largely unperturbed. Our technique utilizes material birefringence in both the resonator and the coupler such that a negative (positive) birefringence allows for polarization-selective coupling to TE (TM) WGMs. We formulate a refined coupling condition suitable for describing the case where the refractive indices of the resonator and the coupler are almost the same, from which we derive a criterion for polarization-selective coupling. Finally, we experimentally demonstrate our proposed method using a lithium niobate disk resonator coupled to a lithium niobate prism, where we show a 22-dB suppression of coupling to TM modes relative to TE modes.
Free-space quantum links under diverse weather conditions
D. Vasylyev,
A. A. Semenov,
W. Vogel,
K. Guenthner,
A. Thurn,
O. Bayraktar,
Ch. Marquardt
Free-space optical communication links are promising channels for establishing secure quantum communication. Here we study the transmission of nonclassical light through a turbulent atmospheric link under diverse weather conditions, including rain or haze. To include these effects, the theory of light transmission through atmospheric links in the elliptic-beam approximation presented by Vasylyev et al. [D. Vasylyev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 090501 (2016)] is further generalized. It is demonstrated, with good agreement between theory and experiment, that low-intensity rain merely contributes additional deterministic losses, whereas haze also introduces additional beam deformations of the transmitted light. Based on these results, we study theoretically the transmission of quadrature squeezing and Gaussian entanglement under these weather conditions.
Temporal shaping of single photons enabled by entanglement
Valentin Averchenko,
Denis Sych,
Gerhard Schunk,
Ulrich Vogl,
Christoph Marquardt,
Gerd Leuchs
We present a method to produce pure single photons with an arbitrary designed temporal shape in a heralded way. As an indispensable resource, the method uses pairs of time-energy entangled photons. One photon of a pair undergoes temporal amplitude-phase modulation according to the desired shape. Subsequent frequency-resolved detection of the modulated photon heralds its entangled counterpart in a pure quantum state. The temporal shape of the heralded photon is indirectly affected by the modulation in the heralding arm. We derive conditions for which the shape of the heralded photon is given by the modulation function. The method can be implemented with various sources of time-energy entangled photons. In particular, using entangled photons from parametric down-conversion the method provides a simple means to generate pure shaped photons with an unprecedented broad range of temporal durations, from tenths of femtoseconds to microseconds. This shaping of single photons will push forward the implementation of scalable multidimensional quantum information protocols, efficient photon-matter coupling, and quantum control at the level of single quanta.
Quantum communication with coherent states of light
Imran Khan,
Dominique Elser,
Thomas Dirmeier,
Christoph Marquardt,
Gerd Leuchs
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL
AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES
375
(2099)
20160235
(2017)
| Journal
Quantum communication offers long-term security especially, but not only, relevant to government and industrial users. It is worth noting that, for the first time in the history of cryptographic encoding, we are currently in the situation that secure communication can be based on the fundamental laws of physics ( information theoretical security) rather than on algorithmic security relying on the complexity of algorithms, which is periodically endangered as standard computer technology advances. On a fundamental level, the security of quantum key distribution (QKD) relies on the non-orthogonality of the quantum states used. So even coherent states are well suited for this task, the quantum states that largely describe the light generated by laser systems. Depending on whether one uses detectors resolving single or multiple photon states or detectors measuring the field quadratures, one speaks of, respectively, a discrete- or a continuous-variable description. Continuous-variable QKD with coherent states uses a technology that is very similar to the one employed in classical coherent communication systems, the backbone of today's Internet connections. Here, we review recent developments in this field in two connected regimes: (i) improving QKD equipment by implementing front-end telecom devices and (ii) research into satellite QKD for bridging long distances by building upon existing optical satellite links.
This article is part of the themed issue 'Quantum technology for the 21st century'.
Quantum-limited measurements of optical signals from a geostationary
satellite
Kevin Guenthner,
Imran Khan,
Dominique Elser,
Birgit Stiller,
Oemer Bayraktar,
Christian R. Mueller,
Karen Saucke,
Daniel Troendle,
Frank Heine, et al.
The measurement of quantum signals that travel through long distances is fundamentally and technologically interesting. We present quantum-limited coherent measurements of optical signals that are sent from a satellite in geostationary Earth orbit to an optical ground station. We bound the excess noise that the quantum states could have acquired after having propagated 38,600 km through Earth's gravitational potential, as well as its turbulent atmosphere. Our results indicate that quantum communication is feasible, in principle, in such a scenario, highlighting the possibility of a global quantum key distribution network for secure communication. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America
Optimally cloned binary coherent states
C. R. Mueller,
G. Leuchs,
Ch. Marquardt,
U. L. Andersen
Binary coherent state alphabets can be represented in a two-dimensional Hilbert space. We capitalize this formal connection between the otherwise distinct domains of qubits and continuous variable states to map binary phase-shift keyed coherent states onto the Bloch sphere and to derive their quantum-optimal clones. We analyze the Wigner function and the cumulants of the clones, and we conclude that optimal cloning of binary coherent states requires a nonlinearity above second order. We propose several practical and near-optimal cloning schemes and compare their cloning fidelity to the optimal cloner.
Free-space propagation of high-dimensional structured optical fields in
an urban environment
Martin P. J. Lavery,
Christian Peuntinger,
Kevin Guenthner,
Peter Banzer,
Dominique Elser,
Robert W. Boyd,
Miles J. Padgett,
Christoph Marquardt,
Gerd Leuchs
Spatially structured optical fields have been used to enhance the functionality of a wide variety of systems that use light for sensing or information transfer. As higher-dimensional modes become a solution of choice in optical systems, it is important to develop channel models that suitably predict the effect of atmospheric turbulence on these modes. We investigate the propagation of a set of orthogonal spatial modes across a free-space channel between two buildings separated by 1.6 km. Given the circular geometry of a common optical lens, the orthogonal mode set we choose to implement is that described by the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) field equations. Our study focuses on the preservation of phase purity, which is vital for spatial multiplexing and any system requiring full quantum-state tomography. We present experimental data for the modal degradation in a real urban environment and draw a comparison to recognized theoretical predictions of the link. Our findings indicate that adaptations to channel models are required to simulate the effects of atmospheric turbulence placed on high-dimensional structured modes that propagate over a long distance. Our study indicates that with mitigation of vortex splitting, potentially through precorrection techniques, one could overcome the challenges in a real point-to-point free-space channel in an urban environment.
High-dimensional intracity quantum cryptography with structured photons
Alicia Sit,
Frederic Bouchard,
Robert Fickler,
Jeremie Gagnon-Bischoff,
Hugo Larocque,
Khabat Heshami,
Dominique Elser,
Christian Peuntinger,
Kevin Guenthner, et al.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) promises information-theoretically secure communication and is already on the verge of commercialization. The next step will be to implement high-dimensional protocols in order to improve noise resistance and increase the data rate. Hitherto, no experimental verification of high-dimensional QKD in the singlephoton regime has been conducted outside of the laboratory. Here, we report the realization of such a single-photon QKD system in a turbulent free-space link of 0.3 km over the city of Ottawa, taking advantage of both the spin and orbital angular momentum photonic degrees of freedom. This combination of optical angular momenta allows us to create a 4-dimensional quantum state; wherein, using a high-dimensional BB84 protocol, a quantum bit error rate of 11% was attained with a corresponding secret key rate of 0.65 bits per sifted photon. In comparison, an error rate of 5% with a secret key rate of 0.43 bits per sifted photon is achieved for the case of 2-dimensional structured photons. We thus demonstrate that, even through moderate turbulence without active wavefront correction, high-dimensional photon states are advantageous for securely transmitting more information. This opens the way for intracity high-dimensional quantum communications under realistic conditions. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America
Contact
Research Group Christoph Marquardt
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light Staudtstr. 2 91058 Erlangen, Germany
