Modulator‐Free Coherent‐One‐Way Quantum Key Distribution

Time‐bin encoding is an attractive method for transmitting photonic qubits over long distances with minimal decoherence. It allows a simple receiver for quantum key distribution (QKD) that extracts a key by measuring time of arrival of photons and detects eavesdropping by measuring interference of pulses in different time bins. In the past, coherent pulses have been generated using a CW laser and an intensity modulator. A greatly simplified transmitter is proposed and demonstrated here that works by directly modulating the laser diode. Coherence between pulses is maintained by a weak seed laser. The modulator‐free source creates time‐bin encoded pulses with a high extinction ratio (29.4 dB) and an interference visibility above 97 %. The resulting QKD transmitter gives estimated secure key rates up to 4.57 Mbit/s, the highest yet reported for coherent‐one‐way QKD, and can be programmed for all protocols using weak coherent pulses.     

Protecting Quantum State in Time‐Dependent Decoherence‐Free Subspaces Without the Rotating‐Wave Approximation

In this paper, we propose a scheme to protect quantum state by utilizing the time‐dependent decoherence‐free subspaces (TDFSs) theory without the rotating‐wave approximation (RWA). A coherent control is designed to drive the quantum system into the TDFSs, moreover, the singularities of the designed coherent control can be avoided by appropriately choosing the control parameters. From an experimental view point, the influences of variations of the control parameters and the imperfect initial state are discussed in detail. Numerical simulations confirm that the scheme can protect the quantum information from both the environmental decoherence and the control errors. In addition, by comparing with the scheme employing RWA, we show that the weak coherent control field is not suitable to create the TDFS, the counter‐rotating terms in the strong coherent control are helpful to protect the quantum information.     

Generalized Lorenz‐Mie Theory for a Sphere with an Eccentrically Located Inclusion,and Optical Chaos

This paper deals with the case when a homogeneous spherical particle (called the inclusion) is embedded at an arbitrary location inside a sphere (called the main or host sphere). Similarly as for previous Generalized Lorenz‐Mie Theories, many applications are expected from this theory, in particular in the field of optical particle characterization. Another interesting prospect concerns the behavior of morphology‐dependent resonances (MDRs). From an electromagnetic point of view, these MDRs correspond to solutions of characteristic equations associated with boundary conditions and lead to internal fields which are concentrated near the rim of the scatterer. It is also shown that this geometrical optics approximation (expressed in terms of rays) is equivalent to a mechanical problem (expressed in terms of trajectories). This mechanical problem leads to chaotic behavior corresponding to optical chaos phenomena in the optical language. We therefore exhibit a class of particles (i) for which the electromagnetic problem is exactly solvable in the framework of a GLMT and (ii) which exhibits chaotic signatures. It is expected that these chaotic signatures would be revealed in salient features of the scattering diagrams, opening the way to refined optical particle characterization in the presence of inhomogeneities.     

Evaluation of a Particle Sizing Technique Based on Laser Sheets

The use of a laser sheet (or elliptical Gaussian beam) in meas-urement techniques is of growing interset. Some of these techniques take advantage of the wavefront curvature of such beams as in a dual-crylindrical wave system (DCW). Nevertheless, up to now, the analysis of the properties of the light scattered by spherical particles form the beam has been carried out largely by using geometrical optics or classical Lorenz-Mie theory. In this paper, the generalized Lorenz-Mie theory (GLMT) is applied to the analysis of an existing DCW measurement system. Differences between the results predicted by classical approaches and by GLMT are emphasized.     

Phase‐Dependent Quantum Correlation in a Cavity‐Atom System

A scheme to manipulate quantum correlation between output lights of a cavity‐atom system by phase control is proposed. A driving‐field phase is introduced which has a similar value with that of building up quantum correlation in a Hanbury–Brown–Twiss setup. A closed‐loop phase is formed to improve quantum coherence by phase‐dependent electromagnetically induced transparency. The closed‐loop phase has been utilized to realize quantum correlation and even quantum entanglement in the atomic system of previous work. With these two phases, a steady and maximum quantum correlation has been obtained in the scheme here. Moreover, the maximum quantum correlation is free to decoherence of this cavity‐atom system. The study on field‐intensity correlation (quantum correlation) has potential applications on correlated imaging, image encryption transmission, and the improvement of noise resistance in a quantum network.     

Quantum regime of a plasma‐wave‐pumped free‐electron laser in the presence of an axial magnetic field

The quantum regime of a plasma‐whistler‐wave‐pumped free‐electron laser (FEL) in the presence of an axial‐guide magnetic field is presented. By quantizing both the plasma whistler field and axial magnetic field, an N‐particle three‐dimensional Hamiltonian of quantum‐FEL (QFEL) has been derived. Employing Heisenberg evolution equations and introducing a new collective operator which controls the vertical motion of electrons, a quantum dispersion relation of the plasma whistler wiggler has been obtained analytically. Numerical results indicate that, by increasing the intrinsic quantum momentum spread and/or increasing the axial magnetic field strength, the bunching and the radiation fields grow exponentially. In addition, a spiking behavior of the spectrum was observed with increasing cyclotron frequency which provides an enormous improvement in the coherence of QFEL radiation even in a limit close‐to‐classical regime, where an overlapping of these spikes is observed. Also, an upper limit of the intrinsic quantum momentum spread which depends on the value of the cyclotron frequency was found.     

Mediated Semi‐Quantum Key Distribution Without Invoking Quantum Measurement

This paper proposes a new semi‐quantum key distribution protocol, allowing two “classical” participants without sophisticated quantum capability to establish a shared secret key under an untrusted third party (a quantum server). The proposed protocol is free from several well‐known attacks. Furthermore, the efficiency is better than the existing three‐party SQKD protocol in which the classical participants must have the quantum measurement capability.     

Second Harmonic Generation of Self‐Focused Cosh‐Gaussian Laser Beam in Thermal Quantum Plasma by Excitation of an Electron Plasma Wave

This paper presents a scheme for second harmonic generation (SHG) of an intense Cosh‐Gaussian (ChG) laser beam in thermal quantum plasmas. Moment theory approach in W.K.B approximation has been adopted in deriving the differential equation governing the propagation characteristics of the laser beam with distance of propagation. The effect of relativistic increase in electron mass on propagation dynamics of laser beam has been incorporated. Due to relativistic nonlinearity in the dielectric properties of the plasma, the laser beam gets self‐focused and produces density gradients in the transverse direction. The generated density gradients excite electron plasma wave (EPW) at pump frequency that interacts with the incident laser beam to produce its second harmonics. Numerical simulations have been carried out to investigate the effects of laser parameters on selffocusing of the laser beam and hence on the conversion efficiency of its second harmonics. Simulation results predict that within a specific range of decentered parameter the ChG laser beams show smaller divergence as they propagate and, thus, lead to enhanced conversion efficiency of second harmonics. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Quantum arbitrary shaped beams revisited

In a current effort, we examine the analogies between electromagnetic scattering and quantum mechanical potential scattering of an incident arbitrary shaped beam. Quantum arbitrary shaped beams, introduced previously in a recent paper, have been found to be inadequate to provide a satisfactory analogy to the electromagnetic case. In this paper, we explain the origin of this inadequacy through the use of various examples, and introduce quantum Eigen-arbitrary shaped beams which exhibit a close analogy between electromagnetic scattering and quantum mechanical potential scattering of shaped beam.     

Latest achievements in generalized Lorenz‐Mie theories: A commented reference database

Generalized Lorenz‐Mie theories form a set of analytical approaches dealing with the interaction between electromagnetic arbitrary shaped beams and a class of particles possessing enough symmetries to allow one to use the method of separation of variables. This paper provides a commented reference database concerning generalized Lorenz‐Mie theories for the period 2009‐2013.     

量子模型分析激光驻波原子透镜的像差

采用量子模型对近共振激光驻波原子透镜会聚Cr原子束、形成纳米量级光栅结构的物理过程进行数值模拟。为提高原子透镜的成像质量,对各种像差,如衍射像差、球差、色差、及原子束发散角、原子磁支能级、原子同位素等因素引起的像差进行了理论分析。模拟结果表明,相比粒子光学模型,量子模型能更加精确地描述原子会聚结果,且能解释原子在驻波光场中的衍射现象。在各种像差中,原子束发散角是最主要的因素,其影响大于衍射像差、球差、色差。原子的磁支能级、同位素等因素对像差影响很小,可以忽略不计。激光冷却准直原子束的方法可以减小束发散角引起的像差,压缩原子速度Vz分布范围的方法可以减小色差。     

Volkov Solution for Two Laser Beams and ITER

We find the solutions of the Dirac equation for two plane waves (laser beams) and we determine the modified Compton formula for the scattering of two photons on an electron. The practical meaning of the two laser beams is, that two laser beams impinging on a target which is constituted from material in the form a foam, can replace 100–200 laser beams impinging on a normal target and it means that the nuclear fusion with two laser beams is realistic in combination with the thermonuclear reactor such as ITER.     

Mediated Semi‐Quantum Key Distribution Using Single Photons

A new mediated semi‐quantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol is proposed, allowing two classical participants to share a secret key with the help of an untrusted third party, who only needs to generate single photons and perform Bell measurements. This is the first work attempting to reduce the quantum overhead of the untrusted third party, which makes the mediated SQKD even more practical. The proposed protocol is shown to be free from several well‐known attacks.     

四光束对高能电子的捕获特性研究

依据非线性强场效应的基本原理,提出了一种四光束捕获电子的方案,旨在通过延长电子和强场相互作用时间来提高非线性过程发生的总概率,实现观测信号的增强。其基本原理是基于电子在强激光光束上的非弹性散射。数值模拟结果表明,捕获后的电子和中心光场的相互作用时间得到延长。     

非偏振贝塞尔高斯光束的球散射

无衍射光束球散射性质的研究目前一般采用贝塞尔光束,但是贝塞尔光束在物理上是不可实现的。贝塞尔高斯光束作为近似无衍射光束,是亥姆霍兹方程在傍轴条件下的解,并且可以用激光振荡器直接产生,但其光束宽是有限的。应用傅里叶变换,平面波谱展开和球面矢量波函数展开法,推导了非偏振贝塞尔高斯光束的球散射远场的无量纲散射函数。通过数值模拟,对非偏振的贝塞尔高斯光束与贝塞尔光束,高斯光束的球散射远场进行了比较,比较发现:当球散射体偏离光轴时,非偏振贝塞尔高斯光束跟贝塞尔光束散射远场的差异主要是散射强度的差异,但是散射极点所在的方向基本保持不变;贝塞尔高斯光束和贝塞尔光束的散射在光束圆锥角方向上比较显著,但高斯光束的前向散射比较显著。     

Laser Driven Electron‐Positron Pair Creation–Kinetic Theory Versus Analytical Approximations

The dynamical Schwinger effect of vacuum pair creation driven by an intense external laser pulse is studied on the basis of quantum kinetic theory. The numerical solutions of these kinetic equations exhibit a complex time dependence which makes an analysis of the physical processes difficult. In particular, the question of secondary effects, such as creation of secondary annihilation photons from the focus spot of the colliding laser beams, remains an important open problem. In the present work we, therefore, develop a perturbation theory which is able to capture the dominant time dependence of the produced electron‐positron pair density. The theory shows excellent agreement with the exact kinetic results during the laser pulse, but fails to reproduce the residual pair density remaining in the system after termination of the pulse. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Near‐field optical enhancement by lead‐sulfide quantum dots and metallic nanoparticles for SERS

There is a growing interest in using quantum dots (QDs) and metallic nanoparticles (NPs), both for luminescence enhancement and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Here, we study the electromagnetic‐field enhancement that can be generated by lead‐sulfide (PbS) QDs using three‐dimensional finite‐element simulations. We investigate the field enhancement associated with combinations of PbS QDs with metallic NPs and substrates. The results show that high field enhancement can be achieved by combining PbS QDs with metallic NPs of larger sizes. The ideal size for Ag NPs is 25 nm, providing a SERS enhancement factor of ~5*10⁸ for light polarization parallel to the NP dimer axis and a gap of 0.6 nm. For Au NPs, the bigger the size, the higher is the field for the studied diameters, up to 50 nm. The near‐field values for PbS QDs above metallic substrates were found to be lower compared to the case of PbS QD‐metal NP dimers. This study provides the understanding for the design and application of QDs for the enhancement of near‐field phenomena. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On‐axis shaping of second‐harmonic beams

We report complete spatial shaping (both phase and amplitude) of the second‐harmonic beam generated in a nonlinear photonic crystal. Using a collinear second‐order process in a nonlinear computer generated hologram imprinted on the crystal, the desired beam is generated on‐axis and in the near field. This enables compact and efficient one‐dimensional beam shaping in comparison to previously demonstrated off‐axis Fourier holograms. We experimentally demonstrate the second‐harmonic generation of high‐order Hermite–Gauss, top hats and arbitrary skyline‐shaped beams.

     

Optically Injection‐Locked Mid‐IR Quantum‐Cascade Lasers: The Output‐Power–Modulation‐Bandwidth–Noise Trilogy

A comprehensive study on the output power, the modulation response, and the relative intensity noise (RIN) behavior of an optically injection‐locked mid‐infrared quantum‐cascade laser reveals that the modulation bandwidth and the output power are enhanced in the stable locking range, while the RIN of the slave laser is a superposition of the master and slave noise sources. Since the RIN level of the master laser can even take the lead, a design procedure is introduced to improve the main characteristics of a free‐running laser, including the RIN, the photon lifetime, the modulation bandwidth, and the bias current, using facet reflectivity tailoring. A figure of merit is defined and the RIN reduction of about 20 dB Hz^?1 is obtained for very low injection powers compared with the injection‐locked system before the design of master laser.     

Tunable and High Photoluminescence Quantum Yield from Self‐Decorated TiO2 Quantum Dots on Fluorine Doped Mesoporous TiO2 Flowers by Rapid Thermal Annealing

Herein a novel approach is reported to achieve tunable and high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) from the self‐grown spherical TiO₂ quantum dots (QDs) on fluorine doped TiO₂ (F‐TiO₂) flowers, mesoporous in nature, synthesized by a simple solvothermal process. The strong PL emission from F‐TiO₂ QDs centered at ≈485 nm is associated with shallow and deep traps, and a record high PL QY of ≈5.76% is measured at room temperature. Size distribution and doping of F‐TiO₂ nanocrystals (NCs) are successfully tuned by simply varying the HF concentration during synthesis. During the post‐growth rapid thermal annealing (RTA) under vacuum, the arbitrary shaped F‐TiO₂ NCs transform into spherical QDs with smaller sizes and it shows dramatic enhancement (≈163 times) in the PL intensity. Electron spin resonance (ESR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirm the high density of oxygen vacancy defects on the surface of TiO₂ NCs. Confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging shows bright whitish emission from the F‐TiO₂ QDs. Low temperature and time resolved PL studies reveal that the ultrafast radiative recombination in the TiO₂ QDs results in highly efficient PL emission. A highly stable, biologically inert, and highly fluorescent TiO₂ QDs/flowers without any capping agent demonstrated here is significant for emerging applications in bioimaging, energy, and environmental cleaning.