Experimental observation of three-color optical quantum correlations

Quantum correlations among bright pump, signal, and idler beams produced by an optical parametric oscillator, all with different frequencies, are experimentally demonstrated. We show that the degree of entanglement between signal and idler fields is improved by using information on pump fluctuations. To our knowledge this is the first observation of three-color optical quantum correlations.     

Two-color continuous-variable entanglement generated in nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator

A scheme is proposed to produce two-color continuous-variable (CV) entanglement in nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator with an injected signal (INOPO). The quantum correlations between signal and idler beams are calculated by applying sufficient inseparability criteria for bipartite CV entanglement. The results indicate that two-color CV entangled beams can be produced when the INOPO is operating both below and above the threshold. The injected signal does not markedly diminish the quantum correlations between the signal and idler beams. The degree of entanglement dependence on damping rates is also investigated.     

Three-colour entanglement generated by an injection-seeded nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator

Three-colour continuous-variable (CV) entanglement can be directly generated by an injection-seeded nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator (INOPO). The quantum correlations among the pump, signal, and idler beams are calculated and discussed by applying sufficient inseparability criteria for CV entanglement. The results clearly show that strong three-colour CV entanglement can be produced by operating the pump above the oscillation threshold. The INOPO is easier to realize experimentally and more steady in comparison to that without an injected signal since the injected signal can increase the nonlinear conversion efficiency and the stability, as well as allow a large degree of tunability. This scheme can be very useful for the applications in quantum communication and computation networks.     

Lower Order and Higher Order Entanglement in Four‐Wave Mixing Process

Possibilities of generation of lower order and higher order intermodal entanglement in four‐wave mixing (FWM) process are rigorously investigated using Sen‐Mandal perturbative technique. The investigation has revealed that for a set of experimentally realizable parameters, one can observe lower order and higher order intermodal entanglement between pump and signal modes and signal and idler modes in a FWM process. In addition, trimodal entanglement involving pump, signal and idler modes is also reported.     

Optimally-output-coupled, 17.5 W,fiber-laser-pumped continuous-wave optical parametric oscillator

We present a stable, high-power, fiber-laser-pumped, continuous-wave (cw), singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO) for the mid-infrared in an output-coupled (OC) configuration, providing 17.5 W of total output power at 61% extraction efficiency. Using a single-frequency, cw Yb fiber laser at 1064 nm and a 50-mm-long MgO:PPLN crystal, through optimization of signal output coupling we generate up to 9.8 W of signal power in the near-infrared together with 7.7 W of idler power for 28.6 W of pump, while in the absence of output coupling, 8.6 W of idler power is generated for the same pump power at 30% efficiency. The SRO is tunable over 360 nm in the idler range. The deployment of signal output coupling results in a total tuning of 513 nm (120 nm of signal, 393 nm of idler) over which watt-level output power can be extracted. Through careful control of thermal effects we achieve a long-term peak-to-peak idler power stability of 5% over 14 hours near room temperature. The output beams have TEM₀₀ spatial profile with M ²<1.28 for the idler and M ²<1.37 for the signal.     

利用非简并光学参量振荡腔产生连续变量三色三组分纠缠态

利用半经典理论方法计算了运转于阈值以上的非简并光学参量振荡腔输出信号场、闲置场及反射抽运场的关联特性. 根据 van Loock 等提出的连续变量多组分纠缠判据, 计算结果表明, 常温下这三个光场的正交振幅分量与正交位相分量之间存在三组分量子关联, 得到了三色三组分纠缠态光场. 数值计算了关联噪声对参量振荡腔物理参数的依赖关系, 找出了产生三色三组分纠缠态产生的最佳运转条件, 为连续变量多组分纠缠态光场产生系统的设计提供了直接参考. 关键词： 连续变量 非简并光学参量振荡腔 三色三组分纠缠态     

连续变量纠缠态光场在光纤中传输特性的实验研究

连续变量纠缠态由于其确定性产生、高效率的特点而被广泛应用于连续变量量子信息处理.在量子信息处理过程中纠缠态与量子信道发生相互作用而退相干,这是限制长距离量子信息发展的重要因素之一.光纤信道作为理想的量子信道,是目前连续变量量子信息研究关注的热点.本文利用Ⅱ类匹配的楔角极化磷酸氧钛钾晶体构成了三共振的非简并光学参量放大器,获得了8.3 dB的光通信波段1.5μm连续变量纠缠态光场.将产生的纠缠态光场注入单模光纤,其量子特性在传输距离达50 km后仍得到保持,纠缠度为0.21dB.该研究可为基于光纤的长距离连续变量量子信息研究提供有效的依据.     

Spectral hole in the amplified spontaneous emission spectrum of a fiber optical parametric amplifier

The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectrum of a fiber optical parametric amplifier in a gain-saturation condition is studied. We experimentally observed holes around the signal and the idler in the ASE spectrum of a deeply gain-saturated amplifier. This observation is explained by a theoretical model that includes parametric interactions among ASE components and the pump, signal, and idler beams.     

Characterize and optimize the four-wave mixing in dual-interferometer coupled silicon microrings

By designing and fabricating a series of dual-interferometer coupled silicon microrings, the coupling condition of the pump, signal, and idler beams can be engineered independently and then we carried out both the continuous-wave and pulse pumped four-wave mixing experiments to verify the dependence of conversion efficiency on the coupling conditions of the four interacting beams, respectively. Under the continuous-wave pump, the four-wave mixing efficiency gets maximized when both the pump and signal/idler beams are closely operated at the critical coupling point, while for the pulse pump case, the efficiency can be enhanced greatly when the pump and converted idler beams are all overcoupled. These experiment results agree well with our theoretical calculations. Our design provides a platform for explicitly characterizing the four-wave mixing under different pumping conditions, and offers a method to optimize the four-wave mixing, which will facilitate the development of on-chip all-optical signal processing with a higher efficiency or reduced pump power.     

Broadband infrared generation with noncollinear optical parametric processes on periodically poled LiNbO(3)

Broadband signal and idler generation based on the spectral retracing behavior in noncollinear phase matching of optical parametric generation in periodically poled LiNbO(3) (PPLN) is reported. Using PPLN of 29.5-mum quasi-phase-matching period and a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser as a pump, we obtained a broad signal spectrum from 1.66 to 1.96 mum and corresponding idler wavelengths from 2.328 to 2.963 mum. The experimental results were consistent with theoretical predictions. Circular and elliptical pump beams were also compared.     

The influence of laser fluctuations on entanglement generation in a non-degenerate parametric amplifier

We consider the effects of the phase and the amplitude fluctuations of the pump field upon the entanglement generation in a non-degenerate optical parametric amplifier. We show that the entanglement between the signal and idler modes in a NOPA system are suppressed by these fluctuations. Our results also show that entanglement is more sensitive to phase fluctuations than to amplitude fluctuations.     

Entanglement and Photon Anti-Bunching in Coupled Non-Degenerate Parametric Oscillators

We analytically and numerically show that the Hillery-Zubairy’s entanglement criterion is satisfied both below and above the threshold of coupled non-degenerate optical parametric oscillators (NOPOs) with strong nonlinear gain saturation and dissipative linear coupling. We investigated two cases: for large pump mode dissipation, below-threshold entanglement is possible only when the parametric interaction has an enough detuning among the signal, idler, and pump photon modes. On the other hand, for a large dissipative coupling, below-threshold entanglement is possible even when there is no detuning in the parametric interaction. In both cases, a non-Gaussian state entanglement criterion is satisfied even at the threshold. Recent progress in nano-photonic devices might make it possible to experimentally demonstrate this phase transition in a coherent XY machine with quantum correlations.     

连续变量1.34 μm量子纠缠态光场的实验制备

设计研制了连续单频671 nm/1342 nm双波长激光器,并通过模式清洁器降低了激光器额外噪声.利用该低噪声连续单频激光器抽运由Ⅱ类准相位匹配晶体构成的双共振非简并光学参量放大器,实验制备出纠缠度达3 dB的光通信波段1.34μm连续变量量子纠缠态光场.该波段量子纠缠态光场在光纤中传输损耗低且相散效应小,与现有的光纤通信系统相兼容,可用于实现基于光纤的实用化连续变量量子通信.     

Optical-fiber source of polarization-entangled photons in the 1550 nm telecom band

We present a fiber-based source of polarization-entangled photons that is well suited for quantum communication applications in the 1550 nm band of standard fiber-optic telecommunications. Polarization entanglement is created by pumping a nonlinear-fiber Sagnac interferometer with two time-delayed orthogonally polarized pump pulses and subsequently removing the time distinguishability by passing the parametrically scattered signal and idler photon pairs through a piece of birefringent fiber. Coincidence detection of the signal and idler photons yields biphoton interference with visibility greater than 90%, while no interference is observed in direct detection of either signal or idler photons. All four Bell states can be prepared with our setup and we demonstrate violations of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt form of Bell's inequality by up to 10 standard deviations of measurement uncertainty.     

Investigation of the influence of extra noises in seed beams on continuous-variable entanglement generation

The influence of the extra classical noises in seed beams on the entanglement between the signal and the idler modes of the output fields generated by a non-degenerate optical parametric amplifier operating at deamplification is investigated theoretically and experimentally.With the increase of the extra classical noises in the seed beams,the correlation degree of the output entangled optical fields,which is scaled by the quantum noise limit,decreases rapidly.The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations.     

High-power synchronously pumped AgGaS(2) optical parametric oscillator

Greater than 2 W of average power was generated in the infrared region by a AgGaS(2) optical parametric oscillator (OPO). A Q -switched mode-locked laser was used to pump the OPO synchronously. Tunability from 1.4 to 1.9mum and a maximum output power of 750 mW at 1.44mum were achieved with a standing-wave cavity. Redesigning the cavity into a ring configuration allowed the depleted pump, signal, and idler beams to be extracted efficiently through separate mirrors. This design generated signal and idler beams of high spatial quality at respective power levels of 1.5 and 620 mW at a pulse repetition rate of 2 kHz.     

The influence of non-Kolmogorov turbulence on the entanglement of spatial two-qubit states in a slant channel

The effects of atmospheric turbulence on the entanglement of spatial two-qubit states that are prepared using the signal and idler photons produced by parametric down-conversion are studied. Utilizing the non-Kolmogorov model for atmospheric turbulence and Rytov approximation method, we quantify the effects of atmospheric turbulence on the entanglement of the two-qubit state in terms of Wootters's concurrence. Our results show that the effects of the zenith angle of communication channel and the outer scale of turbulence on the concurrence of a spatial two-qubit state can be ignored and the smaller inner scale of turbulence, the smaller refractive-index power α, the shorter wavelength of beams and the longer propagation distance will lead to the larger fluctuations of the concurrence of a spatial two-qubit state.     

Field patterns in periodically modulated optical parametric amplifiers and oscillators

Spatially localized and periodic field patterns in periodically modulated optical parametric amplifiers and oscillators are studied. In the degenerate case (equal signal and idler beams) we elaborate on the systematic method of construction of the stationary localized modes in the amplifiers, and study their properties and stability. We describe a method of constructing periodic solutions in optical parametric oscillators, by adjusting the form of the external driven field to the given form of either signal or pump beams.     

Optical parametric oscillator pumped by relaxation oscillation pulses of a mechanically Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

We report the generation of mid-infrared pulsed radiation between 2.2 and 3 μm range using a singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator (SR-OPO) based on a 40-mm-long crystal of periodically-poled LiNbO₃ (PPLN) pumped by mechanically Q-switched pulses from a Nd:YAG laser, obtained by chopping the beam inside the laser resonator over a 1–10 kHz duty cycle. An appreciable reduction in pulse width as well as the number of relaxation oscillation pulses of the Nd:YAG pump laser is observed when the frequency of the Q-switch chopper is increased up to 10 kHz. Sub-nanosecond relaxation oscillation pulses of about 170–210 ns duration are generated under the width of the idler envelope varying from 4.6 to 8.55 μs. The same behavior is observed for the signal wave. A maximum extraction efficiency of 22 % is obtained for the idler, corresponding to 785 mW of output power at 10 kHz. The tuning of the signal and idler beams were performed by temperature variation of the PPLN crystal within 100–200 °C range.     

Direct production of tripartite pump-signal-idler entanglement in the above-threshold optical parametric oscillator

We calculate the quantum correlations existing among the three output fields (pump, signal, and idler) of a triply resonant nondegenerate optical parametric oscillator operating above threshold. By applying the standard criteria [P. van Loock and A. Furusawa, Phys. Rev. A 67, 052315 (2003)], we show that strong tripartite continuous-variable entanglement is present in this well-known and simple system. Furthermore, since the entanglement is generated directly from a nonlinear process, the three entangled fields can have very different frequencies, opening the way for multicolored quantum information networks.