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arXiv:1810.12498 · Optics Express

Polarization effects in nonlinear interference of down-converted photons

Anna V. Paterova, Hongzhi Yang, Chengwu An, Dmitry A. Kalashnikov, Leonid A. Krivitsky

Published Jan 28, 2019• 25 citations
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Abstract

We study polarization effects in the nonlinear interference of photons generated via frequency nondegenerate spontaneous parametric-down conversion. Signal and idler photons, which are generated in the visible and infrared (IR) range, respectively, are split into different arms of a nonlinear Michelson interferometer, and the interference pattern for signal photons is detected. Due to the effect of induced coherence, the interference pattern for the signal photons depends on the polarization rotation of idler photons, which are introduced by a birefringent sample. Based on this concept, we realize two new methods of measuring sample retardation in the IR range by using well-developed and inexpensive components for visible light. The methods' accuracy reaches specifications that are reported for industrial-grade optical elements. The developed IR polarimetry technique is relevant to material research, optical inspection, and quality control.

DOI
10.1364/oe.27.002589

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We study polarization effects in the nonlinear interference of photons generated via frequency nondegenerate spontaneous parametric-down conversion. Signal and idler photons, which are generated in the visible and infrared (IR) range, respectively, are split into different arms of a nonlinear Michelson interferometer, and the interference pattern for signal photons is detected. Due to the effect of induced coherence, the interference pattern for the signal photons depends on the polarization rotation of idler photons, which are introduced by a birefringent sample. Based on this concept, we realize two new methods of measuring sample retardation in the IR range by using well-developed and inexpensive components for visible light. The methods' accuracy reaches specifications that are reported for industrial-grade optical elements. The developed IR polarimetry technique is relevant to material research, optical inspection, and quality control.
We demonstrate a new scheme for infrared spectroscopy with visible light sources and detectors. The technique relies on the nonlinear interference of correlated photons, produced via spontaneous parametric down conversion in a nonlinear crystal. Visible and infrared photons are split into two paths and the infrared photons interact with the sample under study. The photons are reflected back to the crystal, resembling a conventional Michelson interferometer. Interference of the visible photons is observed and it is dependent on the phases of all three interacting photons: pump, visible and infrared. The transmission coefficient and the refractive index of the sample in the infrared range can be inferred from the interference pattern of visible photons. The method does not require the use of potentially expensive and inefficient infrared detectors and sources, it can be applied to a broad variety of samples, and it does not require a priori knowledge of sample properties in the visible range.
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and imaging are important tools in metrology, including material analysis, sensing and characterization. Although conventional methods of IR metrology are available, they face challenges related to the high cost and low efficiency of IR light sources and photodetectors. These challenges can be addressed by circumventing the need for IR-range components using tools and techniques of quantum optics. In this thesis, we describe a technique for IR measurements, which requires using only accessible light sources and detectors operating in the visible range. Our technique is based on the nonlinear interference of correlated photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC). In SPDC, a photon from the pump laser generates a pair of correlated photons within a nonlinear crystal. One photon of the pair can be generated in the visible range, and the other in the IR range. Two identical nonlinear crystals pumped by the same laser form the nonlinear interferometer, where interference of the visible SPDC photons can be observed. The interference pattern of the visible photons depends on amplitudes and phases of the IR photons, which are used to probe the properties of the medium under study. Hence, by observing the interference of the visible photons we infer the IR properties of the media, without direct measurements of IR light. We applied the nonlinear interference method to realize the IR spectroscopy, IR optical coherence tomography (OCT), IR imaging and IR polarimetry. In the IR spectroscopy experiment, we simultaneously and independently measured both refractive index and absorption coefficient of various samples in the IR range, while only detecting photons in the visible range. In IR OCT and IR imaging schemes, we measured the reflectivity of the interfaces of the sample, performed 3D raster and wide field imaging through opaque (in the visible range) materials. In the IR polarimetry, we measured the birefringence of the samples. We studied glass, organic polymer, Silicon and CO2 gas, but our method can be applied to a broad variety of samples. Our method is widely tunable and has high precision and accuracy over mid-IR wavelengths. This work paves the way for further practical adoption of the method in the field of IR metrology, without the need for IR grade detectors and sources.
We describe a proof-of-concept of a method for measurement of both real (refraction) and imaginary (absorption) part of the refractive index in the infrared (IR) range by measuring an interference pattern in the visible range without the need for any spectral and spatial selection. The concept is based on nonlinear interference of entangled photons, generated via Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC). In our interferometer, the phase of the signal photon in the visible range depends on the phase of an entangled IR photon. When the IR photon is traveling through the media of interest, its properties can be found from the observations of the visible photon.
Quantum nonlinear interferometers (QNIs) can measure the infrared physical quantities of a sample by detecting visible photons. A QNI with Michelson geometry based on the spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a second-order nonlinear crystal is studied systematically. A simplified theoretical model of the QNI is presented. The interference visibility, coherence length, equal-inclination interference, and equal-thickness interference for the QNI are demonstrated theoretically and experimentally. As an application example of the QNI, the refractive index and the angle between two surfaces of a BBO crystal are measured using equal-inclination interference and equal-thickness interference.
Nonlinear interferometers based on non-degenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) create a link between separate spectral ranges. This allows for measurements in remote spectral regions while detecting light in easily accessible wavelengths. In our work, we use periodically poled lithium niobate to create correlated signal (visible or near-infrared) and idler (mid-infrared) photon pairs. Using a nonlinear interferometer in Michelson geometry, we obtain broadband mid-infrared spectra from light detected with a silicon avalanche photodiode. Combining the nonlinear interferometer with a measurement scheme in close analogy to classical Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy allows for sub-wavenumber spectral resolution, which opens up possibilities for applications such as precise spectroscopic gas analysis.
Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is an indispensable tool for many practical applications including material analysis and sensing. Existing IR spectroscopy techniques face challenges related to the inferior performance and the high cost of IR-grade components. Here, we develop a new method, which allows studying properties of materials in the IR range using only visible light optics and detectors. It is based on the nonlinear interference of entangled photons, generated via Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC). In our interferometer, the phase of the signal photon in the visible range depends on the phase of an entangled IR photon. When the IR photon is traveling through the media, its properties can be found from observations of the visible photon. We directly acquire the SPDC signal with a visible range CCD camera and use a numerical algorithm to infer the absorption coefficient and the refraction index of the sample in the IR range. Our method does not require the use of a spectrometer and a slit, thus it allows achieving higher signal-to-noise ratio than the earlier developed method.