Complete correlation,detection loophole and Bell's theorem

Two new formulations of Bell's theorem are given here. First, we consider a definite set of two entangled photons with only two polarization directions, for which Bell's locality assumption is violated for the case of perfect correlation. Then, using a different approach, we prove an efficient Bell‐type inequality which is violated by some quantum mechanical predictions, independent of the efficiency factors.     

Bell inequalities for a sensible family of local hidden variable theories testable at low detection efficiency

A family of local models containing two angles as hidden variables is defined for experiments measuring polarization correlation of optical photons. Searching for the best model of the family, that is giving predictions most close to quantum mechanics, allows deriving Bell-type inequalities which may be tested with relatively low detection efficiency.     

Superluminal propagation of evanescent modes as a quantum effect

Contrary to mechanical waves, the two‐slit interference experiment of single photons shows that the behavior of classical electromagnetic waves corresponds to the quantum mechanical one of single photons, which is also different from the quantum‐field‐theory behavior such as the creations and annihilations of photons, the vacuum fluctuations, etc. Owing to a purely quantum effect, quantum tunneling particles including tunneling photons (evanescent modes) can propagate over a spacelike interval. With this picture we conclude that the superluminality of evanescent modes is a quantum mechanical rather than a classical phenomenon.     

Enhanced Nonclassical Third-Order Spatial Intensity Correlations in Three-Beam Interferences<

The joint probability of detecting simultaneously three photons at two and three points in the superposition field of three independent plane waves with the same frequency but random phases is calculated and compared with the results of a classical wave theory. Significant differences occur for sufficiently weak fields. We find that the differences between the quantum mechanical and classical predictions concerning the third order intensity correlation functions are more pronounced in a three-beam than in a two-beam interference experiment.     

High-Speed Quantum Transducer with a Single-Photon Emitter in a 2D Resonator

Quantum transducers can transfer quantum information between different systems. Microwave–optical photon conversion is important for future quantum networks to interconnect remote superconducting quantum computers with optical fibers. Here, a high-speed quantum transducer based on a single-photon emitter in an atomically thin membrane resonator, that can couple single microwave photons to single optical photons, is proposed. The 2D resonator is a freestanding van der Waals heterostructure (which may consist of hexagonal boron nitride, graphene, or other 2D materials) that hosts a quantum emitter. The mechanical vibration (phonon) of the 2D resonator interacts with optical photons by shifting the optical transition frequency of the single-photon emitter with strain or the Stark effect. The mechanical vibration couples to microwave photons by shifting the resonant frequency of an LC circuit that includes the membrane. Thanks to the small mass of the 2D resonator, both the single-photon optomechanical coupling strength and the electromechanical coupling strength can reach the strong coupling regime. This provides a way for high-speed quantum state transfer between a microwave photon, a phonon, and an optical photon.     

Putting mechanics into circuit quantum electrodynamics

We review the use of mechanical oscillators in circuit quantum electrodynamics. The capacitive coupling of nano-electromechanical systems with quantum bits and superconducting microwave resonators gives rise to a rich quantum physics involving electrons, photons and phonons. We focus in particular on the linear coupling between a mechanical oscillator and a microwave resonator and present the quantum dynamics that stems from the phonotonic Josephson junction. The microwave cavity turns out to be a powerful device to detect quantum phonon states and manipulate entangled states between phonons and photons.     

Entangling single photons on a beamsplitter

We report on a scheme for the creation of time-bin entangled states out of two subsequent single photons. Both photons arrive on the same input port of a beamsplitter and the situation in which the photons leave the beamsplitter on different output ports is post-selected. We derive a full quantum mechanical analysis of such time-bin entanglement for emitters subject to uncorrelated dephasing processes and apply this model to sequential single photons emerging from a single semiconductor quantum dot. Our results indicate that the visibility of entanglement is degraded by decoherence effects in the quantum dot, but can be restored by use of CQED effects, namely the Purcell effect.     

Wave function(al)s in the large-N limit

The energy spectrum and correlation functions in various quantum theories have been determined within the large-N limit. Here we study the wave functions. Explicit results are presented for a quantum mechanical rotor, invariant under adjoint transformations of U(N), as well as for O(N) invariant vector models in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.     

Sub-poissonian statistics of fluorescence photons of a single molecule

The method previously used by the author for the measurement and calculation of the distribution function w _N(T)of fluorescence photons from a single two-level atom that is continuously excited by laser light and has a unity fluorescence quantum yield is generalized to the case of a single molecule whose fluorescence quantum yield is smaller than unity and to the case of a three-level molecule whose fluorescence is blinking. The functions w _N(T) calculated for these two cases demonstrate a sub-Poissonian distribution of fluorescence photons.     

原子分子光子系统的耗散相互作用和退相干

原子分子系统与量子化的电磁场或光子模式耦合的系统是非相对论量子力学理论研究和实验研究的主要对象和模型. 现实系统必然与外界环境耦合,且即便原子隔绝较好、光学腔壁品质因子足够高,原子系统也不等价于少数几个能级构成的简单模型：它仍然有不为零的几率跃迁到不可控的能级空间、与原子相互作用的自由空间真空场的量子效应也必须考虑. 本文将结合开放量子系统理论的基本要素与原子光子的基本模型,对原子分子系统在电磁场中发生的耗散以及量子退相干过程做简单综述,并重点介绍描述量子系统退相干过程的主流理论工具——主方程.     

Induced superradiation for a collection of three-level atoms

N three-level atoms interact simultaneously with classical and quantum fields, which are in quasiresonance with various atomic transitions. The classical and quantum fields exchange photons by means of the atoms. It is shown that under certain conditions this process is collective. The number of photons in a quantized mode oscillates, and the amplitude of these oscillations is proportional to N ². The frequency of the oscillations is determined by the frequencies of the classical and external fields.     

Bell Nonlocality, Signal Locality and Unpredictability (or What Bohr Could Have Told Einstein at Solvay Had He Known About Bell Experiments)

The 1964 theorem of John Bell shows that no model that reproduces the predictions of quantum mechanics can simultaneously satisfy the assumptions of locality and determinism. On the other hand, the assumptions of signal locality plus predictability are also sufficient to derive Bell inequalities. This simple theorem, previously noted but published only relatively recently by Masanes, Acin and Gisin, has fundamental implications not entirely appreciated. Firstly, nothing can be concluded about the ontological assumptions of locality or determinism independently of each other—it is possible to reproduce quantum mechanics with deterministic models that violate locality as well as indeterministic models that satisfy locality. On the other hand, the operational assumption of signal locality is an empirically testable (and well-tested) consequence of relativity. Thus Bell inequality violations imply that we can trust that some events are fundamentally unpredictable, even if we cannot trust that they are indeterministic. This result grounds the quantum-mechanical prohibition of arbitrarily accurate predictions on the assumption of no superluminal signalling, regardless of any postulates of quantum mechanics. It also sheds a new light on an early stage of the historical debate between Einstein and Bohr.     

Heisenberg-Langevin Formalism for Squeezing Dynamics of Linear Hybrid Optomechanical System

International Journal of Theoretical Physics - A hybrid quantum optomechanical system is an interface made from coupling between photons, excitons and mechanical oscillations. We use the quantum...     

Angular correlation of scattered annihilation photons, to test the possibility of hidden variables in quantum theory

Angular correlations of the annihilation photons, Compton scattered by plastic scintillators and detected by means of NaI (T1) crystals, have been measured in order to test the possibility of deviations of the experimental results from the predictions of the quantum theory. In fact, Jauch and Bohm, starting with different motivations, both arrive at the possibility of a lower correlation ratio between the two orthogonal polarization states of the two photons than predicted by quantum theory. This in turn should give a lower azimuthal anisotropy in the angular correlations. Our experimental results compared with the theoretical predictions, after correction for finite geometry by means of a Montecarlo method, do not confirm quantum theory and exclude the hypotheses of Jauch and of Bohm. We are continuing the experiment in order to test wether the breakdown in the polarization correlation depends on the distance (spatial and/or temporal) between the two correlated scattering events, as suggested by Jauch. Paper A 34 presented at 3 rd Internat'l Conf. Positron Annihilation, Otaniemi, Finland (August 1973).     

Review of recent experimental progress in foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum information achieved in parametric downconversion experiments at IENGF

We review some recent experimental progress concerning foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum information obtained in the Carlo Novero Quantum Optics Laboratory at IENGF. After a short presentation of our polarization-entangled photon source (based on precise superposition of two type I PDC emissions) and of the results obtained with it, we describe in more detail an innovative double slit experiment where two degenerate photons produced by PDC are each sent to a specific slit. Beyond representing an interesting example of the relation between the visibility of interference and welcher Weg knowledge, this configuration has been suggested for testing de Broglie-Bohm theory (dBB) against standard quantum mechanics (SQM). Our results perfectly fit SQM results but disagree with dBB predictions. Then, we discuss a recent experiment addressed at clarifying the issue of which wave-particle observables are really to be considered when discussing wave-particle duality. This experiments realizes the theoretical proposal of Agarwal et al., overcoming the limitations of a previous experiment. Finally, we hint at the realization of a high-intensity high-spectral-selectivity PDC source to be used for quantum information studies.     

Electron capture probability by quantum wells

The electron capture probability in a quantum well is studied by using the theory of generalized random walks. A periodically oscillating capture probability versus quantum well width, L_z, is obtained. Our stochastic model has new aspects compared with both the classical and quantum mechanical models.