Single photon self-interference via inelastic two-wave mixing in a coherently prepared cold medium

We investigate a coherently prepared cold medium for efficient single-photon inelastic two-wave mixing (ITWM), maximum Fock state entanglement and single photon self-interference. We show the possibility of generating maximally entangled single-photon state, and near 100% conversion efficiency for generating a frequency shifted TWM photon by proper choice of medium length and concentration. In addition, we demonstrate a new type of transparency effect produced by an efficient single photon self-interference, a transparency effect that is very different from the conventional electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) process.     

New generating function formulas of Jacobi polynomials obtained by virtue ofthe photon subtracted and photon added two-mode squeezed states

We derive some new generating function formulas of Jacobi polynomials in the context of quantum optics theory, i.e., by virtue of the photon subtracted and photon added two-mode squeezed states.     

Accuracy analysis on centroid estimation algorithm limited by photon noise for point object

The variance of the position of point object because of photon noise for centroid estimation algorithm is derived for the first time when the background cannot be eliminated by threshold. On this foundation, the accuracy of centroid estimation algorithm is analyzed by comparing its estimated efficiency (the ratio of the Cramer-Rao lower bound of point object and the variance for centroid algorithm) based on the classic estimation theory. The results indicated that the following factors influence the accuracy of centroid estimation algorithm: SBR (the ratio of the outputs from the signal light and the background), the Gaussian width of signal spot and the size of detected window. The effects of these factors are also described.     

Decay of Z boson into photon and unparticle

We study the decay of the standard model Z boson into unparticle plus a single photon through a one-loop process. As in the anomaly type decay, only the axial-vector part of the Z coupling matching with the vector unparticle and/or the vector part of the Z coupling matching with the axial-vector unparticle can give a nonzero contribution to the decay. We show that the photon spectrum terminates at the end point in accord with Yang's theorem. Existing data on single photon production at LEP I is used to constrain the unparticle sector.     

Distillation of continuous-variable entanglement with optical means

We present an event-ready procedure that is capable of distilling Gaussian two-mode entangled states from a supply of weakly entangled states that have become mixed in a decoherence process. This procedure relies on passive optical elements and photon detectors distinguishing the presence and the absence of photons, but does not make use of photon counters. We identify fixed points of the iteration map, and discuss in detail its convergence properties. Necessary and sufficient criteria for the convergence to two-mode Gaussian states are presented. On the basis of various examples we discuss the performance of the procedure as far as the increase of the degree of entanglement and two-mode squeezing is concerned. Finally, we consider imperfect operations and outline the robustness of the scheme under non-unit detection efficiencies of the detectors. This analysis implies that the proposed protocol can be implemented with currently available technology and detector efficiencies.     

Statistical characteristics of photon distributions in a semi-infinite turbid medium: Analytical expressions and their application to optical tomography

The paper focuses on the determination of statistical characteristics of photon distributions in a semi-infinite turbid medium, specifically the photon average trajectory and the root-mean-square deviation of photons from the average trajectory, with an approach based on the diffusion approximation to the radiative transfer equation. We show that the Dirichlet and Robin boundary conditions used for this purpose give close results. We derive exact analytical expressions for the case of the Dirichlet boundary condition. To demonstrate the practical value of our results we consider approximate solution of the inverse problem of time-domain diffuse optical tomography with the flat layer transmission geometry. The problem is solved with the method of photon average trajectories which are constructed with analytical expressions derived for a semi-infinite medium.     

Analysis of triplet production by a circularly polarized photon at high energies

The possibility in principle of determining the circular polarization of a high-energy photon by measuring the created electron polarization in the process of triplet photoproduction γ + e ^? → e ⁺ e ^? + e ^? is investigated. The respective event number, which depends on polarization states of the photon and the created electron, does not decrease as the photon energy increases, and this circumstance can ensure the high efficiency in such experiments. We study different double and single distributions of the created electron (or positron), which allow probing the photon circular polarization and measuring its magnitude (the Stokes parameter ξ₂) using the technique of Sudakov variables. Some experimental setups with different rules for event selection are studied and the corresponding numerical estimations are presented.     

单分子光子源光子统计的非平衡探测

研究了在Hanbury Brown Twiss探测方式下，非平衡探测系统对光子统计测量的影响。通过记录2个单光子计数器响应的单分子光子源输出的每一个事件，分析具有泊松统计背景的实际单分子光子源的光子统计特性，讨论并给出了非平衡探测系统的单分子光子源Mandel参数。研究表明：非理想的50／50分束器、非理想的线性传输效率和非理想的探测器都会使单分子光子源Mandel参数的实际测量结果小于平衡系统的Mandel参数，最后给出了单分子光子源Mandel参数的非理想探测的校正表达式。     

Exciton photoluminescence, photoconductivity and absorption in GaSe0.9Te0.1 alloy crystals

The photoluminescence, photoconductivity and absorption in GaSe_0.9Te_0.1 alloy crystals have been investigated as a function of temperature and external electric field. It has been observed that the exciton peaks shift to lower energy in GaSe_0.9Te_0.1 alloy crystals compared to GaSe crystals. The long wavelength tails of interband photoluminescence, photoconductivity and absorption spectra are determined by the free exciton states and show an Urbach-Martienssen-type dependence to the photon energy. The maxima of the extrinsic photoluminescence and photoconductivity spectra were found to be determined by the acceptor centers with an energy of E_A=E_V+0.19 eV formed by the polytypism and defects complexes that include Se and Te anions.     

Beams of electromagnetic radiation carrying angular momentum: The Riemann-Silberstein vector and the classical-quantum correspondence

All beams of electromagnetic radiation are made of photons. Therefore, it is important to find a precise relationship between the classical properties of the beam and the quantum characteristics of the photons that make a particular beam. It is shown that this relationship is best expressed in terms of the Riemann-Silberstein vector - a complex combination of the electric and magnetic field vectors - that plays the role of the photon wave function. The Whittaker representation of this vector in terms of a single complex function satisfying the wave equation greatly simplifies the analysis. Bessel beams, exact Laguerre-Gauss beams, and other related beams of electromagnetic radiation can be described in a unified fashion. The appropriate photon quantum numbers for these beams are identified. Special emphasis is put on the angular momentum of a single photon and its connection with the angular momentum of the beam.     

Information-based uncertainty for a photon

It is shown on the basis of Fisher information that the ultimate root-mean square uncertainty in the position of a single photon of wavelength λ is 0.112λ in vacuum. This is as well an “effective size” for the photon.     

Wavelength dependent Stark compensation in isotope selective Doppler-free two photon ionization

A novel wavelength dependent Stark shift compensation method for isotope selective ionization in Doppler free two-photon spectroscopy is theoretically investigated. In the present paper, certain wavelengths for the ionization step termed as “magic wavelengths” are identified for compensating the Stark shift induced by the excitation laser. The numerical calculations indicate that, ionization efficiencies can be maximized by the judicious choice of the intensities of the excitation and the ionization lasers without much degradation in the optical selectivity. The effects of Stark shift induced asymmetry and its reversal by selecting the appropriate magic wavelength for the ionization step for various excitation and ionization laser intensities have been investigated. The wavelength dependent Stark compensation method can be adapted for the isotope selective Doppler free two-photon excitation followed by non-resonant ionization process for any atomic system. In the present work, the theoretical results pertaining to the specific example of ⁴¹Ca has been presented.     

Second order gauge theory

A gauge theory of second order in the derivatives of the auxiliary field is constructed following Utiyama’s program. A novel field strength G = ∂F + fAF arises besides the one of the first order treatment, F = ∂A − ∂A + fAA. The associated conserved current is obtained. It has a new feature: topological terms are determined from local invariance requirements. Podolsky Generalized Eletrodynamics is derived as a particular case in which the Lagrangian of the gauge field is L_P ∝ G². In this application the photon mass is estimated. The SU (N) infrared regime is analysed by means of Alekseev-Arbuzov-Baikov’s Lagrangian.     

Transient differential reflectivity of ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases in the bilayered manganite La1.24Sr1.76Mn2O7

Photoinduced effects in a single crystal of bilayered manganites, La_2−2xSr_1+2xMn₂O₇ (x=0.38), were investigated in a wide range of temperatures by pump-probe measurement at a photon energy of 1.6 eV. In a ferromagnetic metallic state, significant enhancement of positive rise in differential reflectivity with a slow relaxing time of 100 ps was observed just below T_C=127 K, indicating that the reflectivity change with the slow relaxation time constant is induced by laser heating. We have also observed an unconventional fast relaxing component that has a time constant of the order of 10 ps. This fast relaxing component, whose absolute value has an asymmetric peak at T_C, is presumably due to short-range correlation of Jahn-Teller distortion.     

Polarized parton distributions of the photon

The polarized parton distributions of the photon are determined by imposing a VMD valence-like structure at some low resolution scale. Experimental tests at high energyep colliders are studied for inclusive single photon orW-boson production.     

Diploe-allowed optical absorption of an exciton in a spherical parabolic quantum dot

A investigation of the linear and nonlinear optical properties of an exciton in a spherical parabolic quantum dot has been performed by using the matrix diagonalization method. The optical absorption coefficients between the ground state (L=0,π=+1) and the first excited state (L=1,π=-1) have been examined based on the computed energies and wave functions. The results are presented as a function of the incident photon energy for the different values of the incident optical intensity and the confinement strength. We found the optical absorption coefficient is strongly affected by the incident optical intensity and the confinement strength.     

Low-temperature transport properties of individual SnO2 nanowires

Stannic oxide (SnO₂) nanowires have been prepared by Chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The low-temperature transport properties of a single SnO₂ nanowire have been studied. It is found that the transport of the electrons in the nanowires is dominated by the Efros-Shklovskii variable-range hopping (ES-VRH) process due to the enhanced Coulomb interaction in this semiconducting nanowire. The temperature dependence of the resistance follows the relation lnR∼T^−1/2. On the I-V and dI/dV curves of the nanowire a Coulomb gap-like structure at low temperatures appears.     

Solid-state single photon sources: light collection strategies

We examine the problem of efficiently collecting the photons produced by solid-state single photon sources. The extent of the problem is first established with the aid of simple physical concepts. Several approaches to improving the collection efficiency are then examined and are broadly categorized into two types. First are those based on cavity quantum dynamics, in which the pathways by which the source may emit a photon are restricted, thus channeling emission into one desired mode. Second are those where we try to reshape the free space modes into a target mode in an optimal way, by means of refraction, without fundamentally altering the way in which the source emits. Respectively, we examine a variety of microcavities and solid immersion lenses. Whilst we find that the micropillar microcavities offer the highest collection efficiency (∼70%), choosing this approach may not always be appropriate due to other constraints. Details of the different approaches, their merits and drawbacks are discussed in detail. Received 19 July 2001 and Received in final form 5 October 2001     

Theoretical study on stability of Z-scan technique by use of quasi-one-dimensional slit beam

The modified Z-scan technique using the quasi-one-dimensional slit (QODS) beam for characterizing the third-order optical nonlinearity has been reported recently. In the present work, we investigate the effect of the finite length of the slit in the QODS beam Z-scan for the practical experimental conditions, and then give an empirical expression that allows the direct estimation of nonlinear refraction coefficient from the measured normalized peak-valley transmittance difference. In particular, we explore relatively in detail the influences of the sample imperfection on the Z-scan traces, such as the hollow hole of the sample and the nonuniform nonlinearity. Compared with the other Z-scan techniques, such as the top-hat and Gaussian-beam Z-scans, we find that the QODS beam Z-scan has the great improvement for the sample imperfections. The results suggest that the QODS beam Z-scan is a more promising and useful technique for characterizing the optical nonlinearity of an imperfect sample.