Evaluating the spectral sensitivity of the nonlinear-optical terahertz wave radiation detecors via spontaneous parametric down-conversion spectra

Principal parameters of the nonlinear-optical crystals are analyzed, which govern the spectral sensitivity of the terahertz wave detectors based on the frequency conversion from terahertz to optical range. A method is developed and experimentally demonstrated for characterizing these parameters. The method is founded on the spontaneous parametric down-conversion spectra observation without external terahertz wave radiation.     

Adjusting the properties of the photon generated via an optical parametric oscillator by using a pulse pumped laser

The cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion far below threshold can be used to generate a narrow-band photon pair efficiently. Previous experiments on the cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion almost always utilize continuous wave pump light, but the pulse pumped case is rarely reported. One disadvantage of the continuous wave case is that the photon pair is produced randomly within the coherence time of the pump, which limits its application in the quantum information realm. However, a pulse pump can help to solve this problem. In this paper, we theoretically analyze pulse pumped cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion in detail and show how the pump pulse affects the multi-photon interference visibility, two-photon waveform, joint spectrum and spectral brightness.     

Direct Measurement of the Correlation Function of Optical–Terahertz Biphotons

JETP Letters - The second-order correlation function which characterizes the quantum correlation between the optical and terahertz photons generated under spontaneous parametric down-conversion has...     

Parametric frequency conversion in layered nonlinear media

Frequency-angular distributions of signal wave intensity are calculated for spontaneous parametric down-conversion and parametric frequency conversion in spatially nonuniform nonlinear media. Wave reflection from interfaces is taken into account, and both regular and irregular nonuniform distributions of second-order nonlinear susceptibility are considered. A unified approach using a scattering matrix and a generalized Kirchhoff law is applied in calculations of spontaneous and stimulated processes in dissipative nonlinear media. Interference of electromagnetic zero-point fluctuations of the vacuum, nonlinear interference, and nonlinear diffraction are examined for media with various absorptive properties. Theoretical foundations are developed for diagnostics of nonuniform distributions of the second-order susceptibility, based on measurement of the line profiles of nonlinear signals.     

基于参变下转换效应的光辐射定标方法

介绍了一种新型的基于参变下转换效应的光辐射绝对定标方法,利用固体钛宝石激光器倍频后产生的351 nm的激光光源抽运非线性BBO晶体,制备了一对简并的参变下转换光子对(波长为702 nm),并利用晶体的角度调谐特性,制备了另一对非简并的参变下转换光子对(波长为633 nm和789 nm).定标了光电倍增管的量子效率,介绍了实验原理和定标装置,系统分析了测量过程中引入的不确定度.结果表明,参变下转换效应光辐射定标方法的相对合成不确定度小于5.5%.参变下转换定标方法与传统的基于标准探测器的辐射定标方法作了一个比对,表明两种定标方法相对误差小于10%.     

六光子超纠缠态制备方案

自发参量下转换对应于一种非线性光学过程, 实验上作为一种标准方法, 人们利用自发参量下转换源产生纠缠光子对. 本文考虑由自发参量下转换源产生三对纠缠光子的情况. 通过使用由几组偏振光 束分束器、分束器和半波片等线性光学器件组成的量子线路演化三对光子, 给出了一个高效制备 包含偏振纠缠和空间纠缠的六光子超纠缠态方案. 因为方案中包含了参量下转换源产生三对纠缠光子 的所有可能情况, 所以本方案有很高的效率. 基于弱非线性介质构建了一个量子非破坏性测量装置, 用于区分光子在两指定的空间模中的两种分布情况. 特别地, 方案中可以通过合理约束在量子非破坏性测量过程中引入的非线性强度来达到实际实验所限定的数量级, 因此, 该方案易于在实验上实现.     

Entangled two-photon wave packet in a dispersive medium

We report an experimental study of group-velocity dispersion effect on an entangled two-photon wave packet, generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion and propagating through a dispersive medium. Even in the case of using cw laser beam for pump, the biphoton wave packet and the second-order correlation function spread significantly. The study and understanding of this phenomenon is of great importance for quantum information applications, such as quantum communication and distant clock synchronization.     

Quantum Zeno effect in two coupled nonlinear optical processes

Consecutive nonlinear optical interactions consisting of two coupled parametric processes, namely, the nondegenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion and up-conversion, are analyzed. The vacuum state of the input light is considered to be an unstable state decaying into a reservoir of down-converted modes, with one of the modes generated being continuously measured using the up-conversion process. Mean photon numbers at interacting frequencies are studied. Special attention is paid to the case where the nonlinear coupling coefficient for the up-conversion process is much larger than that for the nondegenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion. It is shown that in this case the result of such consecutive interactions can be interpreted from the viewpoint of the quantum Zeno effect.     

Anisotropically and high entanglement of biphoton states generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion

We show both theoretically and experimentally that biphoton wave packets generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion can be strongly anisotropic and highly entangled. The conditions under which these effects exist are found and discussed.     

Quantum efficiency calibration of opto-electronic detector by means of correlated photons method

A new calibration method of detectors can be realized by using correlated photons generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) effect of nonlinear crystal.An absolute calibration system of detector quantum efficiency is performed.And its principle and experimental setup are introduced.A continuouswave (CW) ultraviolet (351 nm),diode-pumped,frequency-doubled,and solid-state laser is used to pump BBO crystal.The quantum efficiencies of the photomultiplier at 633,702,and 789 nm are measured respectively.The coincidence peaks are observed using coincidence circuit.Some measurement factors including the filter bandwidth of trigger channel,the detector position alignment and polarization of the pump light are analyzed.The uncertainties of this calibration method are also analyzed,and the relative uncertainties of total calibration are less than 5.8%.The accuracy of this method could be improved in the future.     

Measurement of the spectral brightness of terahertz radiation in the process of nonlinear-optical detection

A method has been proposed for the absolute measurement of the spectral brightness of terahertz radiation in the process of the parametric frequency conversion to the optical range. The method has a low threshold flux and does not require extrinsic references. The method simultaneously allows for the calibration of thermal fluctuations and the determination of the absolute local temperature of a nonlinear converter crystal.     

Ultrabroadband biphotons generated via chirped quasi-phase-matched optical parametric down-conversion

We generate ultrabroadband biphotons via the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in quasi-phase-matched nonlinear gratings that have a linearly chirped wave vector. By using these ultrabroadband biphotons (300-nm bandwidth), we measure the narrowest Hong-Ou-Mandel dip to date, having a full width at half maximum of 7.1 fs. This enables the generation of a high flux of nonoverlapping biphotons with ultrabroad bandwidth, thereby promoting the use of SPDC light in many nonclassical applications.     

Mapping of periodically poled crystals via spontaneous parametric down-conversion

A new method for characterization of periodically poled crystals is developed based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The method is demonstrated on crystals of Y:LiNbO₃, Mg:Y:LiNbO₃ with non-uniform periodically poled structures, obtained directly under the Czochralski growth procedure and designed for application of 1.064 μmpumped OPO in the mid-infrared range. Infrared dispersion of refractive index, effective working periods and wavelengths of OPO were determined by special treatment of frequency-angular spectra of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in the visible range. Two-dimensional mapping via spontaneous parametric down-conversion is proposed for characterizing spatial distribution of bulk quasi-phase matching efficiency across the input window of a periodically poled sample.     

Research in absolute calibration of single photon detectors by means of correlated photons

There are two general methods in radiometric calibration of detectors, one is based on radiation sources and the other based on detectors. Because the two methods need to establish a primary standard of high precision and a transfer chain, precision of the standard will be reduced by extension of the chain. A new calibration method of detectors can be realized by using correlated photons generated in spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) effect of nonlinear crystal, without needing transfer chain. Using 351.1-nm output of a tunable laser to pump β-barium borate (BBO) crystal, an absolute calibration experimental system of single photon detectors based on correlated photons is performed. The quantum efficiency of photomultiplier (PMT) at 702.2 nm is measured by the setup. Advantages of this method over traditional methods are also pointed out by comparison.     

Generation of broadband biphotons and their compression in an optical fiber

The generation of biphoton wave packets with a broad spectrum owing to quasi-phase-matched spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a crystal with an aperiodic poling has been considered. Biphotons at the exit of such a sample are not Fourier limited; i.e., their correlation time is much larger than the inverse width of the spectrum. It has been shown that if the inverse grating vector varies linearly along the sample length, the generated biphoton wave packets can be compressed in time by transmitting two-photon light through an optical fiber.     

Transverse compression of two-photon wave packets

A method for generating two-photon wave packets (biphotons) with a small width of the spatial intensity correlation function (correlation radius) has been considered. We propose to prepare a two-photon wave packet inhomogeneously broadened in the angle by means of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in an inhomogeneous crystal. Such biphotons are not diffraction limited; i.e., their correlation radius is much larger than the inverse width of the spatial spectrum. However, the correlation radius of such a biphoton decreases as the biphoton propagates in free space, and transverse compression occurs at a certain distance from the crystal; i.e., the biphoton becomes diffraction limited.     

Scalable scheme for entangling multiple ququarts using linear optical elements

We report a scalable linear optical scheme for generating entangled states of multiple ququarts in which the individual single-ququart state is prepared with the biphoton polarization state of frequency-nondegenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The output state is calculated with the full consideration of the higher order effect (double-pair events) of spontaneous parametric down-conversion. Scalability to multiple-ququart entanglement is demonstrated with examples: linear optical entanglement of three and four individual biphoton ququarts.     

多波段相关光子光谱分布与时间相关性测量实验研究

基于相关光子的定标技术能够实现“无标准传递”绝对定标,研究相关光子的光谱辐射特性及时间相关特性对遥感器在宽波段的辐射定标具有重要意义。为满足光电探测器在宽谱段量子效率定标需求,基于相关光子的定标技术有必要从单一波段向更多波段扩展。根据自发参量下转换所满足的相位匹配条件,推导出相关光子在晶体内的非共线角计算公式,通过数值模拟相关光子光谱辐射角度分布规律,优化晶体相位匹配角,使得自发参量下转换产生的相关光子具有宽光谱分布,并且相关光子辐射角度与光谱波长能够一一对应。根据光谱分布数值模拟结果,建立了多波段相关光子的光谱分布和时间相关性测量实验系统,利用该系统测量了四对相关光子的光谱分布、符合计数、相关时间以及偏振特性。其中,测量的光谱分布范围为633~808 nm,最大光谱分布测量偏差为1.51 mm,光谱分布实验测量结果与数值模拟结果符合一致;测量了四对相关光子对的相关时间,最小相关时间为0.32 ns,并在实验中观察到了“符合三峰”现象;相关光子单光子计数及符合计数与泵浦光的偏振方向呈正弦函数关系。实验研究表明,相关光子对具有可见光~近红外宽波段分布、时间相关及偏振特性。论文研究结果在国内外尚属首次报道,该研究结果有望应用于光电探测器在多波段的辐射定标。     

Quantum state preparation and conditional coherence

It is well known that spontaneous parametric down-conversion can be used to probabilistically prepare single-photon states. We have performed an experiment in which arbitrary superpositions of zero- and one-photon states can be prepared by appropriate postselection. The optical phase, which is meaningful only for superpositions of photon number, is related to the relative phase between the zero- and one-photon states. Whereas the light from spontaneous parametric down-conversion has an undefined phase, we show that this technique collapses one beam to a state of well-defined optical phase when a measurement succeeds on the other beam.     

级联参量振荡产生太赫兹辐射的理论研究

针对光学参量振荡产生太赫兹波转换效率低的缺点, 提出了级联参量振荡产生太赫兹波的新机理以提高转换效率. 以周期极化铌酸锂晶体为例, 对级联参量振荡产生太赫兹波的原理和过程进行了理论研究. 分析了抽运光波长、周期极化铌酸锂晶体极化周期和工作温度对产生一阶、二阶闲频光频率的影响. 推导了三波共线相互作用条件下太赫兹波的增益特性和吸收特性. 计算结果表明, 通过级联参量振荡可以有效提高太赫兹波的转换效率, 并可以得到宽调谐的太赫兹波输出. 基于分析结果, 设计了周期极化铌酸锂晶体级联参量振荡产生高效率、宽调谐、窄线宽、连续太赫兹波的实验. 关键词： 太赫兹波 太赫兹波参量振荡 级联参量振荡