© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

Terms Privacy Legal Notice

arXiv:1412.7339 · International Journal of Quantum Information

Spontaneous parametric down-conversion in chirped, aperiodically-poled crystals

X. Sánchez-Lozano, J. L. Lucio M.

Published Jul 2, 2015• 3 citations

Abstract

We present a theoretical analysis of the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) in a nonlinear crystal characterized by a linearly-chirped χ(2) grating along the direction of propagation. Our analysis leads to an expression for the joint spectral amplitude, based on which we can derive various spectral–temporal properties of the photon pairs and of the heralded single photons obtained from the photon pairs, including: The single-photon spectrum (SPS), the chronocyclic Wigner function (CWF) and the Schmidt number. The simulations that we present are for the specific case of a collinear SPDC source based on a PPLN crystal with the signal and idler photons emitted close to the telecom window. We discuss the mechanism for spectral broadening due to the presence of a linearly chirped χ(2) grating, showing that not only the width but also to some extent the shape of the SPDC spectrum may be controlled. Also, we discuss how the fact that the different spectral components are emitted on different planes in the crystal leads to single-photon chirp.

DOI: 10.1142/s021974991550032x

Related papers

On the relationship between pump chirp and single-photon chirp in spontaneous parametric downconversion

X. Sánchez-Lozano, Alfred B U’Ren, Jose Luis Lucio

We study the chronocyclic character, i.e. the joint temporal and spectral properties, of the single-photon constituents of photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down conversion. In particular we study how single photon properties, including purity and single-photon chirp, depend on photon pair properties, including the type of signal-idler spectral and correlations and the level of pump chirp.

arXiv:1206.0650•Journal of Optics•Dec 22, 2011•9 citations

Chirped quasi-phase-matching with Gauss sums for production of biphotons

D A Antonosyan, A R Tamazyan, G Y Kryuchkyan

We study the theory of linearly chirped biphoton wave-packets produced in two basic quasi-phase-matching configurations: chirped photonic-like crystals and aperiodically poled crystals. The novelty is that these structures are considered as definite assembles of nonlinear layers that leads to detailed description of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) processes through the discrete Gauss sums. We demonstrate that biphoton spectra for chirped photonic crystals involving a small number of layers consist from definite well-resolved spectral lines. We also discuss the forming of broadband spectra of signal (idler) waves in SPDC for both configurations as number of layers increases as well as in dependence of chirping parameters .

arXiv:1205.4359•Journal of Physics B Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics•Oct 4, 2012•10 citations

Generation of ultra-broadband spontaneous parametric down conversion from chirped periodically poled near-stoichiometric lithium tantalate

Magued B. Nasr, Alexander V. Sergienko, Bahaa E. A. Saleh +4 more

We measure the ultra-broadband spectrum of collinear spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) generated in chirped periodically poled near-stoichiometric lithium tantalate (C-PPSLT) gratings. The spectral broadening is accompanied by a decrease in the photon flux.

International Conference on Quantum Information•Jan 1, 2007•0 citations

Control, measurement, and propagation of entanglement in photon pairs generated through type-II parametric down-conversion

Yasser Jerónimo-Moreno, Alfred B. U’Ren

We present a study of the effects of dispersion on the properties of photon pairs generated by type-II collinear spontaneous parametric down-conversion. Specifically, we take into consideration the effects of a chirped pump, as well as of dispersive propagation of the photon pairs. We present expressions for the joint amplitude both in the spectral and temporal domains, as well as for the chronocyclic Wigner function of heralded single photons, which fully characterizes the single-photon spectral (temporal) properties. On the one hand, we show that unwanted effects of pump chirp in terms of the heralded single-photon duration can be suppressed for states designed to be factorable and spectrally elongated. On the other hand, we show that pump chirp constitutes an effective tool for the control of the degree of photon-pair entanglement. We show that when frequency-entangled photon pairs propagate through a dispersive medium, entanglement can ``migrate'' between the modulus and phase of the joint temporal amplitude.

arXiv:0904.3923•Physical Review A•Mar 25, 2009•18 citations

Gaussian mode coupling of spectrally broadband photons from bulk spontaneous parametric down-conversion: A spatial-spectral mode analysis of fiber coupling

Carlos Sevilla-Gutiérrez, Varun Raj Kaipalath, Fabian Steinlechner

Photon sources based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) are central to experimental quantum optics and quantum technologies. Their performance is commonly quantified by three metrics: pair-collection probability, heralding efficiency, and spectral purity. In bulk-crystal SPDC, these metrics are known to be mutually constrained, yet the physical origin of the resulting trade-offs is often obscured. We show that these trade-offs originate from the frequency-dependent population of discrete spatial modes in the SPDC emission. By performing a Laguerre-Gauss mode decomposition at each frequency component, we show how spectral-spatial non-separability impacts collection probability, heralding efficiency, and purity. We apply this framework to two widely used quasi-phase-matching configurations: collinear degenerate type-0 and type-II SPDC in periodically poled bulk crystals, and quantify how different phase-matching functions shape the spectral-spatial mode structure. In particular, for type-II SPDC we compare standard periodically poled and aperiodically poled Gaussian phase matching. We experimentally validate some of our theoretical results using spatial- and spectral-projection measurements. This spectral-spatial mode analysis provides a quantitative and predictive framework for understanding and engineering bulk-crystal photon sources, enabling systematic multi-parameter optimization beyond qualitative design guidelines.

quant-pharXiv:2602.23238•Physical Review A•Feb 27, 2026•1 citation

Intense ultra-broadband down-conversion from randomly poled nonlinear crystals

Jiŕí Svozilík, Jan Peřina

Stochastic quasi-phase-matching of the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion is analyzed. It is shown that spectral, temporal and spatial properties of photon pairs generated in randomly poled crystals are similar to those generated in chirped periodically-poled crystals. Especially, randomly poled crystals are capable to emit photon pairs with ultra-broad spectra.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•May 5, 2011•0 citations

We present a theoretical analysis of the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) in a nonlinear crystal characterized by a linearly-chirped χ(2) grating along the direction of propagation. Our analysis leads to an expression for the joint spectral amplitude, based on which we can derive various spectral–temporal properties of the photon pairs and of the heralded single photons obtained from the photon pairs, including: The single-photon spectrum (SPS), the chronocyclic Wigner function (CWF) and the Schmidt number. The simulations that we present are for the specific case of a collinear SPDC source based on a PPLN crystal with the signal and idler photons emitted close to the telecom window. We discuss the mechanism for spectral broadening due to the presence of a linearly chirped χ(2) grating, showing that not only the width but also to some extent the shape of the SPDC spectrum may be controlled. Also, we discuss how the fact that the different spectral components are emitted on different planes in the crystal leads to single-photon chirp.

We study the theory of linearly chirped biphoton wave-packets produced in two basic quasi-phase-matching configurations: chirped photonic-like crystals and aperiodically poled crystals. The novelty is that these structures are considered as definite assembles of nonlinear layers that leads to detailed description of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) processes through the discrete Gauss sums. We demonstrate that biphoton spectra for chirped photonic crystals involving a small number of layers consist from definite well-resolved spectral lines. We also discuss the forming of broadband spectra of signal (idler) waves in SPDC for both configurations as number of layers increases as well as in dependence of chirping parameters .

We present a study of the effects of dispersion on the properties of photon pairs generated by type-II collinear spontaneous parametric down-conversion. Specifically, we take into consideration the effects of a chirped pump, as well as of dispersive propagation of the photon pairs. We present expressions for the joint amplitude both in the spectral and temporal domains, as well as for the chronocyclic Wigner function of heralded single photons, which fully characterizes the single-photon spectral (temporal) properties. On the one hand, we show that unwanted effects of pump chirp in terms of the heralded single-photon duration can be suppressed for states designed to be factorable and spectrally elongated. On the other hand, we show that pump chirp constitutes an effective tool for the control of the degree of photon-pair entanglement. We show that when frequency-entangled photon pairs propagate through a dispersive medium, entanglement can ``migrate'' between the modulus and phase of the joint temporal amplitude.

Photon sources based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) are central to experimental quantum optics and quantum technologies. Their performance is commonly quantified by three metrics: pair-collection probability, heralding efficiency, and spectral purity. In bulk-crystal SPDC, these metrics are known to be mutually constrained, yet the physical origin of the resulting trade-offs is often obscured. We show that these trade-offs originate from the frequency-dependent population of discrete spatial modes in the SPDC emission. By performing a Laguerre-Gauss mode decomposition at each frequency component, we show how spectral-spatial non-separability impacts collection probability, heralding efficiency, and purity. We apply this framework to two widely used quasi-phase-matching configurations: collinear degenerate type-0 and type-II SPDC in periodically poled bulk crystals, and quantify how different phase-matching functions shape the spectral-spatial mode structure. In particular, for type-II SPDC we compare standard periodically poled and aperiodically poled Gaussian phase matching. We experimentally validate some of our theoretical results using spatial- and spectral-projection measurements. This spectral-spatial mode analysis provides a quantitative and predictive framework for understanding and engineering bulk-crystal photon sources, enabling systematic multi-parameter optimization beyond qualitative design guidelines.