Orbital angular momentum of entangled counterpropagating photons

We elucidate the paraxial orbital angular momentum of entangled photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric downconversion in different noncollinear geometries in which the entangled photons counterpropagate. We find, in particular, the orbital angular momentum of entangled pairs generated in transverse-emitting configurations, in which none of the known rules for selecting orbital angular momentum holds.     

Spectral properties of entangled photon pairs generated via quasi-phased-matched spontaneous parametric down-conversion

The spectral properties of entangled photon pairs generated via quasi-phased matching in spontaneous parametric down-conversion are proposed and demonstrated experimentally. A general mathematical model for evaluating the spectral properties is developed to obtain the spectrum shape and range of down-converted photons. The model takes into account the effects of phase mismatching due to non-ideal pumping and the relationship between crystal periodic modulation function and the incidence angle of the pump beam. The spectrum curve shape is determined by the discrete Fourier transform of a Gaussian pump beam and the integration of parametric down-conversion generated by an individual plane wave. An experiment is carried out with a PPLN non-linear crystal and dispersing optics, which shows a good consistency in their spectral ranges and shapes with our model predictions within the spectrum of 600–633 nm. This therefore illustrates that both the simulation model and the experimental process are reasonable. This novel method has potential applications in high-accuracy calibration in the wide spectrum using correlated photons.     

Twin photons entangled in polarization and angular momentum

Quantum states of twin photons entangled in angular momentum and polarization provide new degrees of freedom to researchers in quantum information and imaging. This work discuss these states and also emphasizes differences between two proposed models for twin photons entangled in angular momentum. Answers to the presented questions would contribute to a better understanding of this nonlinear process. Received 30 August 2002 / Received in final form 10 October 2002 Published online 21 January 2003     

Measurement of the photonic de broglie wavelength of entangled photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Using a basic Mach-Zehnder interferometer, we demonstrate experimentally the measurement of the photonic de Broglie wavelength of entangled photon pairs (biphotons) generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The observed interference manifests the concept of the photonic de Broglie wavelength. We also discuss the phase uncertainty obtained from the experiment.     

Effects of multiple pairs on visibility measurements of entangled photons generated by spontaneous parametric processes

Entangled photon-pair sources based on spontaneous parametric processes are widely used in photonic quantum information experiments. In this paper, we clarify the relationship between average photon-pair number and the visibility of two-photon interference (TPI) using those entanglement sources. We consider sources that generate distinguishable and indistinguishable entangled photon pairs, assuming coincidence measurements that use threshold detectors. We present formulas for the TPI visibility of a polarization entanglement that take account of all the high-order multi-pair emission events. Moreover, we show that the formulas can be approximated with simple functions of the average pair number when the photon collection efficiency is small. As a result, we reveal that an indistinguishable entangled pair provides better visibility than a distinguishable one.     

Distinguishing genuine entangled two-photon-polarization sfrom independently generated pairs of entangled photons

A scheme to distinguish entangled two-photon-polarization (ETP) states from two independent entangled one-photon-polarization (EOP) states is proposed. Using this scheme, the experimental generation of ETP by parametric down-conversion is confirmed through the anticorrelations among three orthogonal two-photon-polarization states. The estimated fraction of ETP among the correlated photon pairs is 37% in the present experimental setup.     

Orbital angular momentum crosstalk of single photons propagation in a slant non-Kolmogorov turbulence channel

We analyze the orbital angular momentum (OAM) crosstalk of single photons propagation through low-order atmospheric turbulence. The probability models of the orbital angular momentum crosstalk for single photons propagation in the channel with the non-Kolmogorov turbulence tilt, coma, and astigmatism and defocus aberration have been established. It is found, for α = 11/3, that the turbulent tilt is the dominant aberration which causes the orbital angular momentum crosstalk, the coma is second and the astigmatism is third, but the defocus aberration has no impact on OAM. The results also indicate that the regularities of orbital angular momentum crosstalk caused by the tilt, the coma and the astigmatism are almost the same, respectively. The crosstalk probability of the orbital angular momentum increases as the azimuth mode index p of Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam increases, the turbulent strength C_n² enhances, the orbital angular momentum quantum number rises, the diameter of circular sampling aperture D and the channel zenith angle θ increase.     

Spatial symmetry and conservation of orbital angular momentum in spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Directly contradictory arguments coexist regarding the conservation rule of orbital angular momentum in spontaneous parametric down-conversion. We analytically show how this rule is decided by spatial symmetry. We discover that the down-converted photon pairs can carry non-negligible extrinsic orbital angular momentum in the degrees of relative-movement freedom due to spatial symmetry breaking, leading to nonconservation of total orbital angular momentum in type-II down-conversion. Also, we demonstrate that the traditional technique does not measure the extrinsic orbital angular momentum.     

Bounds and optimisation of orbital angular momentum bandwidths within parametric down-conversion systems

We propose a scheme to evidence the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox for photons produced by spontaneous down conversion, from measurement of purely spatial correlations of photon positions both in the near- and in the far-field. Experimentally, quantum correlations have been measured in the far-field of parametric fluorescence created in a type II BBO crystal. Imaging is performed in the photon counting regime with an electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera.     

大气信道中单光子轨道角动量纠缠特性的研究

本文讨论了大气信道中轨道角动量纠缠光子对的纠缠度, 并利用von Karman大气湍流谱来建立双光子纠缠度的模型, 分析了大气湍流对不同轨道角动量纠缠光子对纠缠度的影响. 研究表明: 在大气信道中, 由于大气湍流的存在, 纠缠光子对的纠缠度随着传输距离z的增加而减小; 大气湍流强度越大, 纠缠光子对的纠缠度下降的越快, 纠缠光子对传输的距离越小; 在湍流强度相同的大气信道轨道角动量指数越大的纠缠光子对, 纠缠度下降得越慢, 纠缠光子对传输的距离越远.     

Indistinguishable entangled photons generated by a light-emitting diode

A linear optical quantum computer relies on interference between photonic qubits for logic, and entanglement for near-deterministic operation. Here we measure the interference and entanglement properties of photons emitted by a quantum dot embedded within a light-emitting diode. We show that pairs of simultaneously generated photons are entangled, and indistinguishable from subsequently generated photons. We measure entanglement fidelity of 0.87 and two-photon-interference visibility of 0.60 ± 0.05. The visibility, limited by detector jitter, could be improved by optical cavity designs.     

Theory for quantum state of photon pairs generated from spontaneous parametric down-conversion nonlinear process

A theory is presented for the quantum state of photon pairs generated from spontaneous parametric down-conversion nonlinear process. In this theory, the influence of the final sizes of nonlinear optical crystals on optical eigenmodes is explicitly taken into consideration. It was found that these photon pairs are not in entangled quantum states. Polarization correlations between the signal beam and the idler beam are explained. It is also shown that the two photons generated from SPDC are not spatially separated, therefore the polarization correlation between the signal and idler beams is not an evidence for quantum non-locality. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Deterministic qubit transfer between orbital and spin angular momentum of single photons

In this work we experimentally implement a deterministic transfer of a generic qubit initially encoded in the orbital angular momentum of a single-photon to its polarization. Such a transfer of quantum information, which is completely reversible, has been implemented adopting an electrically tunable q-plate device and a Sagnac interferometer with a Dove prism. The adopted scheme exhibits high fidelity and low losses.     

Atmospheric turbulence and orbital angular momentum of single photons for optical communication

The effects of propagation through random aberrations on coherence for single-photon communication systems based on orbital angular momentum states are quantified. A rotational coherence function is derived which leads to scattering equations for azimuthal modes of different orbital angular momentum states. The effect on a single-photon communication system is quantified using the channel capacity. The work shows that the decoherence effect of atmospheric turbulence on such systems is important even for weak turbulence.     

Two-mode correlation of microwave quantum noise generated by parametric down-conversion

In this Letter, we report the observation of the correlation between two modes of microwave radiation resulting from the amplification of quantum noise by the Josephson parametric converter. This process, seen from the pump, can be viewed as parametric down-conversion. The correlation is measured by an interference experiment displaying a contrast better than 99% with a number of photons per mode greater than 250,000. Dispersive measurements of mesoscopic systems and quantum encryption can benefit from this development.     

Orbital angular momentum and nonparaxial light beams

The simple relationship between total angular momentum and energy and the seemingly natural separation of the angular momentum into spin and orbital components in the paraxial approximation, are investigated for a general nonparaxial form of monochromatic beam with near cylindrical symmetry.     

Effects of multi-Schell beams on orbital angular momentum of entangled signal photons in low-order turbulence aberration channels

We model the detection and crosstalk probability of orbital angular momentum (OAM) states of the entangled signal photon in the Kolmogorov channels of the low-order turbulence aberrations and by the Rytov approximation. The results show that lower OAM mode number of signal photons and larger sub-beam number of multi-Gaussian Schell-model pump beam, the less susceptible of the detection probability of the signal photon to spatial coherence of source and turbulence aberrations is achieved. The maximum crosstalk probability is decrease as the decreasing of the sub-beam number of multi-Gaussian Schell-model. Enlarging OAM difference value or decreasing sub-beam number of multi-Gaussian Schell-model pump beam results in a lower crosstalk probability of the OAM of entangled signal photons.     

Purity and entanglement of two-photon polarization states generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion

We elucidate the dependence of purity and entanglement of two-photon states generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion on the parameters of the source, such as crystal length, pump beam divergence, frequency bandwidth, and detectors angular aperture. The effect of crystal anisotropy is taken into account. Numerical simulations are presented for two types of commonly used source configurations.     

Orbital angular momentum of partially coherent beams

The definition of the orbital angular momentum established for coherent beams is extended to partially coherent beams, expressed in terms of two elements of the beam matrix. This extension is justified by use of the Mercer expansion of partially coherent fields. General Gauss-Schell-model fields are considered, and the relation between the twist parameter and the orbital angular momentum is analyzed.