Dead time corrections to photon counting statistics II: Quantum theory

The recent formulation of the quantum theory of photodetection, based on the quantum theory of continuous measurements, is extended to the case of a (nonideal) detector which has non-zero dead time. A general result is proven which expresses the dead time modified counting statistics in terms of the counting statistics of anassociated ideal detector. As an illustration, the dead time corrections to the counting statistics of a single-mode free field are worked out, and these corrections are shown to be identical in form to the dead time corrections for a classical optical field of constant intensity.     

Tavis–Cummings Model with Moving Atoms

In this work, we examine a nonlinear version of the Tavis–Cummings model for two two-level atoms interacting with a single-mode field within a cavity in the context of power-law potentials. We consider the effect of the particle position that depends on the velocity and acceleration, and the coupling parameter is supposed to be time-dependent. We examine the effect of velocity and acceleration on the dynamical behavior of some quantumness measures, namely as von Neumann entropy, concurrence and Mandel parameter. We have found that the entanglement of subsystem states and the photon statistics are largely dependent on the choice of the qubit motion and power-law exponent. The obtained results present potential applications for quantum information and optics with optimal conditions.     

基于光子计数的纠缠微波压缩角锁定

针对基于超导180°混合环的纠缠微波制备方案探测效率低、信息处理难以及控制复杂等问题,设计了基于微波光子计数的压缩角锁定方案.对超导180°混合环的输出信号进行微波光子计数,通过贝叶斯准则估计输入压缩态微波场的相对压缩角,并将压缩角校正信息反馈于约瑟夫森参量放大器抽运源,调整两路单模压缩态微波场的相对压缩角为180°,达到控制输出纠缠性能最优的目的.该研究为路径纠缠微波的纠缠性能的提升以及高质量纠缠微波源的设计提供了理论参考.     

Investigations of information quantifiers for the Tavis–Cummings model

In this article, a system of two two-level atoms interacting with a single-mode quantized electromagnetic field in a lossless resonant cavity via a multi-photon transition is considered. The quantum Fisher information, negativity, classical Fisher information, and reduced von Neumann entropy for the two atoms are investigated. We found that the number of photon transitions plays an important role in the dynamics of different information quantifiers in the cases of two symmetric and two asymmetric atoms. Our results show that there is a close relationship between the different quantifiers. Also, the quantum and classical Fisher information can be useful for studying the properties of quantum states which are important in quantum optics and information.     

Freezing coherent field growth in a cavity by the quantum zeno effect

We have frozen the coherent evolution of a field in a cavity by repeated measurements of its photon number. We use circular Rydberg atoms dispersively coupled to the cavity mode for an absorption-free photon counting. These measurements inhibit the growth of a field injected in the cavity by a classical source. This manifestation of the quantum Zeno effect illustrates the backaction of the photon number determination onto the field phase. The residual growth of the field can be seen as a random walk of its amplitude in the two-dimensional phase space. This experiment sheds light onto the measurement process and opens perspectives for active quantum feedback.     

Generation of photon number states on demand via cavity quantum electrodynamics

Many applications in quantum information or quantum computing require radiation with a fixed number of photons. This increased the demand for systems able to produce such fields. We discuss the production of photon fields with a fixed photon number on demand. The first experimental demonstration of the device is described. This setup is based on a cavity quantum electrodynamics scheme using the strong coupling between excited atoms and a single-mode cavity field.     

Interferences,ghost images and other quantum correlations according to stochastic optics

There are an extensive variety of experiments in quantum optics that emphasize the non-local character of the coincidence measurements recorded by spatially separated photocounters. These are the cases of ghost image and other interference experiments based on correlated photons produced in, for instance, the process of parametric down-conversion or photon cascades. We propose to analyse some of these correlations in the light of stochastic optics, a local formalism based on classical electrodynamics with added background fluctuations that simulate the vacuum field of quantum electrodynamics, and raise the following question: can these experiments be used to distinguish between quantum entanglement and classical correlations?     

混沌光场光子统计分布及二阶相干度的分析与测量

利用通信波段双通道单光子探测器,采用Hanbury Brown-Twiss关联测量方案,理论分析并实验测量了光反馈半导体激光器产生的混沌光场的光子统计分布及不同混沌状态光场的二阶相干度.通过对混沌光场二阶相干度g~((2))(τ)的理论分析,得出随着延迟时间和相干时间的变化,其与相干光、热光及单光子态的二阶相干度可明显区分并呈现出不同分布.同时实验上产生了频谱宽度6.7 GHz的混沌光场,测量了不同光子数分布的结果,并用高斯随机分布、泊松分布、玻色-爱因斯坦分布对光子数分布进行理论拟合,发现随着入射平均光子数的增加,光子数分布从玻色-爱因斯坦分布过渡到泊松分布,但整个过程都与高斯随机分布符合较好,且光场的二阶相干度g~((2))(0)由2降至1.通过改变偏置电流(I=1.0Ith-2.0Ith)和反馈强度(0—10%),实验上研究了混沌光场由低频起伏到相干塌陷的过程中不同状态宏观动力学特性与二阶相干度的对应关系.结果表明:混沌光场在此过程中始终呈现出明显的聚束效应,并在频谱宽度最大时达到最强;同时给出了光子计数测量中聚束效应减弱的物理原因.实验表明该系统及方法能很好地揭示不同状态混沌光场的光子统计特性.     

Quantum Communication with Continuous Variables

Many quantum communication schemes rely on the resource of entanglement. For example, quantum teleportation is the transfer of arbitrary quantum states through a classical communication channel using shared entanglement. Entanglement, however, is in general not easy to produce on demand. The bottom line of this work is that a particular kind of entanglement, namely that based on continuous quantum variables, can be created relatively easily. Only squeezers and beam splitters are required to entangle arbitrarily many electromagnetic modes. Similarly, other relevant operations in quantum communication protocols become feasible in the continuous‐variable setting. For instance, measurements in the maximally entangled basis of arbitrarily many modes can be accomplished via linear optics and efficient homodyne detections. In the first two chapters, some basics of quantum optics and quantum information theory are presented. These results are then needed in Chapter III, where we characterize continuous‐variable entanglement and show how to make it. The members of a family of multi‐mode states are found to be truly multi‐party entangled with respect to all their modes. These states also violate multi‐party inequalities imposed by local realism, as we demonstrate for some members of the family. Further, we discuss how to measure and verify multi‐party continuous‐variable entanglement. Various quantum communication protocols based on the continuous‐variable entangled states are discussed and developed in Chapter IV. These include the teleportation of entanglement (entanglement swapping) as a test for genuine quantum teleportation. It is shown how to optimize the performance of continuous‐variable entanglement swapping. We highlight the similarities and differences between continuous‐variable entanglement swapping and entanglement swapping with discrete variables. Chapter IV also contains a few remarks on quantum dense coding, quantum error correction, and entanglement distillation with continuous variables, and in addition a review of quantum cryptographic schemes based on continuous variables. Finally, in Chapter V, we consider a multi‐party generalization of quantum teleportation. This so‐called telecloning means that arbitrary quantum states are transferred not only to a single receiver, but to several. However, due to the quantum mechanical no‐cloning theorem, arbitrary quantum states cannot be perfectly copied. We present a protocol that enables telecloning of arbitrary coherent states with the optimal quality allowed by quantum theory. The entangled states needed in this scheme are again producible with squeezed light and beam splitters. Although the telecloning scheme may also be used for "local'' cloning of coherent states, we show that cloning coherent states locally can be achieved in an optimal fashion without entanglement. It only requires a phase‐insensitive amplifier and beam splitters.     

基于Tavis-Cummings模型实现非定域三原子系统量子特性的远程控制

运用全量子理论并结合数值计算方法,研究了三个二能级原子系统的量子特性。初始三原子处于W纠缠态,让其中的两原子A、B与相干态光腔场发生共振作用,经腔QED演化以后,对原子进行Bell基测量,通过调节相干态光场的强度和原子间的偶极相互作用,来控制腔外原子C的布居差演化;对相干态光场进行光子探测,通过改变探测到的光子数、相干光场参量和原子间偶极相互作用,来控制腔外原子C的偶极压缩,最终实现了远程操纵腔外原子非经典特性的目的。     

Continuous‐variable quantum information processing

Observables of quantum systems can possess either a discrete or a continuous spectrum. For example, upon measurements of the photon number of a light state, discrete outcomes will result whereas measurements of the light's quadrature amplitudes result in continuous outcomes. If one uses the continuous degree of freedom of a quantum system for encoding, processing or detecting information, one enters the field of continuous‐variable (CV) quantum information processing. In this paper we review the basic principles of CV quantum information processing with main focus on recent developments in the field. We will be addressing the three main stages of a quantum information system; the preparation stage where quantum information is encoded into CVs of coherent states and single‐photon states, the processing stage where CV information is manipulated to carry out a specified protocol and a detection stage where CV information is measured using homodyne detection or photon counting.     

Photon distribution in nonlinear coherent states

The notion of f-oscillators generalizing q-oscillators is discussed. For the classical and quantum cases, an interpretation of the f-oscillator is provided as corresponding to a special nonlinearity of vibration for which the frequency of the oscillation depends on the energy. The f-coherent states generalizing the q-coherent states are constructed. Applied to quantum optics, the photon distribution function and photon number means and dispersions are calculated for the f-coherent states as well as the Wigner-Moyal function and Q-function. As an example, it is shown how this nonlinearity may affect the Planck's distribution formula.     

用于符合测量的多通道符合计数器

符合测量在量子光学实验中有着重要的应用,它可以用于测量纠缠光子对和单光子干涉等实验。在使用过程中,经常用到三通道或更多通道的符合测量,这种情况下简单的门电路无法满足使用要求,而现场可编程门阵列(FPGA)为实现低成本、小体积的多通道符合计数系统提供了解决方案。同时,基于FPGA的多通道符合计数系统还可以提供ns精度的符合分辨时间,避免本底光噪声对探测器的影响,从而有效抑制偶然符合,进一步提高了多通道符合计数系统的性能。本文介绍了基于FPGA的多通道符合计数器,并实验测量了单光子探测器信号的符合计数。     

Transition Effect Matrices and Quantum Markov Chains

A transition effect matrix (TEM) is a quantum generalization of a classical stochastic matrix. By employing a TEM we obtain a quantum generalization of a classical Markov chain. We first discuss state and operator dynamics for a quantum Markov chain. We then consider various types of TEMs and vector states. In particular, we study invariant, equilibrium and singular vector states and investigate projective, bistochastic, invertible and unitary TEMs.     

显微光子计数成像系统及其应用

光子计数成像系统可以探测生物超微弱发光,但是只能探测生物的宏观图像,若要深入到细胞、分子水平,必须有显微光子计数成像系统。二者的区别类于显微光子计数成像系统是噪声受限系统。本文报道的显微光子计数成像系统,采用＾１４Ｃ同位素光源来监测系统的状态,保证实现极限探测。该系统可以用来研究痕量生物分子的分布和功能,显示钙离子在细胞内外的分布,活性氧、基因表达的监测等。由单光子到单分子、组织学图像到功能图像的     

Integrated quantum key distribution system using single sideband detection

We report a new quantum cryptographic system involving single sideband detection and allowing an implementation of the BB84 protocol. The transmitted bits are reliably coded by the phase of a high frequency modulating signal. The principle of operation is described in terms of both classical and quantum optics. The method has been demonstrated experimentally at 1 550 nm using compact and conventional device technology. Single photon interference has been obtained with a fringe visibility greater than 98%, indicating that the system can be used in view of quantum key distribution potentially beyond 50-km-long standard single-mode fiber. Received 13 July 2001 and Received in final form 30 November 2001     

Binary projective measurement via linear optics and photon counting

We investigate the implementation of binary projective measurements with linear optics. This problem can be viewed as a single-shot discrimination of two orthogonal pure quantum states. We show that any two orthogonal states can be perfectly discriminated using only linear optics, photon counting, coherent ancillary states, and feedforward. The statement holds in the asymptotic limit of a large number of these physical resources.     

Classical and quantum self amplified spontaneous emission in a high gain free electron laser

We describe the quantum theory and the photon statistics of self amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) in a high gain free electron laser (FEL) using Glauber's quantum theory of coherence. We generalize a previous theory by taking into account many-mode effects and the initiation process resulting from classical shot noise, quantum noise, an injected coherent field and coherent bunching. In particular, we define the concept of quantum SASE which is appropriate when the initial quantum fluctuations dominate over the classical shot noise. We also discuss the conditions for the observation. Quantum SASE is a new quantum phenomenon in which the single electron uncertainty fluctuations of the conjugate variables position and momentum produce exponential amplification of the vacuum field.     

Les boı̂tes quantiques semi-conductrices : des atomes artificiels pour l'optique quantique

The recent development of high quality semiconductor quantum dots as opened the way to quantum optics experiments in the solid-state on these ‘artificial atoms’. We discuss in particular the control of their spontaneous emission in microcavities (strong coupling, spontaneous emission enhancement, monomode emission) and the generation of quantum states of light (single photons and photon pairs). We finally present a single-mode solid-state single photon source, which is based on a single quantum dot in a pillar microcavity, and is the first of a novel class of optoelectronic devices relying on cavity quantum electrodynamics for their operation. To cite this article: J.-M. Gérard et al., C. R. Physique 3 (2002) 29–40     

Dynamics of Entropy and Nonclassicality Features of the Interaction between a ◊-type Four-Level Atom and a Single-Mode Field in the Presence of Intensity-Dependent Coupling and Kerr Nonlinearity

The interaction between a ◊-type four-level atom and a single-mode field in the presence of Kerr medium with intensity-dependent coupling involving multi-photon processes has been studied. Using the generalized (nonlinear) Jaynes-Cummings model, the exact analytical solution of the wave function for the considered system under particular condition, has been obtained when the atom is initially excited to the topmost level and the field is in a coherent state. Some physical properties of the atom-field entangled state such as linear entropy showing the entanglement degree, Mandel parameter, mean photon number and normal squeezing of the resultant state have been calculated. The effects of Kerr medium, detuning and the intensity-dependent coupling on the temporal behavior of the latter mentioned nonclassical properties have been investigated. It is shown that by appropriately choosing the evolved parameters in the interaction process, each of the above nonclassicality features, which are of special interest in quantum optics as well as quantum information processing, can be revealed.