arXiv:2305.13734 · Physical Review A

Complete spectral characterization of biphotons by simultaneously determining their frequency sum and difference in a single quantum interferometer

Baihong Li, Changhua Chen, Xiao Xiang, Runai Quan, Ruifang Dong, Shougang Zhang, Xiangying Hao, Rui‐Bo Jin

Published Aug 14, 2023• 6 citations

Abstract

We propose theoretically a quantum interferometer in which the NOON state interferometer is combined with the Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer. With this interferometer, the temporal interference patterns associated with biphoton frequency sum and difference can be shown in different parts of a single interferogram. It is thus possible to simultaneously obtain the spectral correlation information of biphotons in both frequency sum and difference by taking the Fourier transform from such an interferogram. This provides a method for complete spectral characterization of an arbitrary two-photon state with exchange symmetry and might be useful in quantum Fourier-transform spectroscopy where direct spectral measurement is difficult. Furthermore, as it can realize the measurement of time intervals on three scales at the same time, we expect that it can provide a method in quantum metrology. Finally, we discuss another potential application of such an interferometer in the generation and characterization of high-dimensional and phase-controlled frequency entanglement.

DOI: 10.1103/physreva.108.023713

Related papers

Full characterization of biphotons with a generalized quantum interferometer

Baihong Li, Changhua Chen, Boxin Yuan +4 more

Entangled photons (biphotons) in the time-frequency degree of freedom play a crucial role in both foundational physics and advanced quantum technologies. Fully characterizing them poses a key scientific challenge. Here, we propose a theoretical approach to achieving the complete tomography of biphotons by introducing a frequency shift in one arm of the combination interferometer. Our method, a generalized combination interferometer, enables the reconstruction of the full complex joint spectral amplitude associated with both frequency sum and difference in a single interferometer. In contrast, the generalized Hong-Ou-Mandel and N00N state interferometers only allow for the partial tomography of biphotons, either in frequency difference or frequency sum. This provides an alternative method for full characterization of an arbitrary two-photon state with exchange symmetry and holds potential for applications in high-dimensional quantum information processing.

arXiv:2311.08164Physical Review AApr 2, 20244 citations

Quantum frequency combs and Hong–Ou–Mandel interferometry: the role of spectral phase coherence

Navin B. Lingaraju, Hsuan‐Hao Lu, Suparna Seshadri +4 more

The Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer is a versatile tool for analyzing the joint properties of photon pairs, relying on a truly quantum interference effect between two-photon probability amplitudes. While the theory behind this form of two-photon interferometry is well established, the development of advanced photon sources and exotic two-photon states has highlighted the importance of quantifying precisely what information can and cannot be inferred from features in a Hong-Ou-Mandel interference trace. Here we examine Hong-Ou-Mandel interference with regard to a particular class of states, so-called quantum frequency combs, and place special emphasis on the role spectral phase plays in these measurements. We find that this form of two-photon interferometry is insensitive to the relative phase between different comb line pairs. This is true even when different comb line pairs are mutually coherent at the input of a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer and the fringe patterns display sharp temporal features. Consequently, Hong-Ou-Mandel interference cannot speak to the presence of high-dimensional frequency-bin entanglement in two-photon quantum frequency combs.

arXiv:1909.13823Optics ExpressDec 9, 201935 citations

Time-Domain Quantum Interferometric Spectroscopy of Biphotons

Samuel Corona-Aquino, Zi-Qi Zeng, Tao Xie +11 more

We present a technique for spectral characterization of biphotons generated through spontaneous parametric down-conversion. By hybridizing a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer with a N00N-state interferometer, we successfully recover the Joint Spectral Intensity from a single time-domain measurement.

Jan 1, 20250 citations

Quantum interferometric spectroscopy of a biexciton

Hiroya Seki, Kensuke Miyajima, Ryōsuke Shimizu

Fourier transform spectroscopy with classical interferometry corresponds to the measurement of a single-photon intensity spectrum from the viewpoint of the particle nature of light. In contrast, the Fourier transform of two-photon quantum interference patterns provides the intensity spectrum of the two photons as a function of the sum- or difference frequency of the constituent photons. This unique feature of quantum interferometric spectroscopy offers a different type of spectral information from the classical measurement and may prove useful for nonlinear spectroscopy with two-photon emission. Here, we report the experimental demonstration of two-photon quantum interference of biphotons emitted via biexcitons in the semiconductor CuCl. Besides applying Fourier transform to quantum interference patterns, we reconstruct the intensity spectrum of the biexciton luminescence in the two-photon sum- or difference frequency. We discuss the connection between the reconstructed spectra and exciton states in CuCl as well as the capability of quantum interferometry in solid-state spectroscopy.

Physical Review ADec 22, 20226 citations

Quantum Fourier transform spectroscopy of biexciton

Hiroya Seki, Kensuke Miyajima, Ryōsuke Shimizu

Fourier transform spectroscopy with classical interferometry corresponds to the measurement of a single-photon intensity spectrum from the viewpoint of the particle nature of light. In contrast, the Fourier transform of two-photon quantum interference patterns provides the intensity spectrum of the two photons as a function of the sum or difference frequency of the constituent photons. This unique feature of quantum interferometric spectroscopy offers a different type of spectral information from the classical measurement and may prove useful for nonlinear spectroscopy with two-photon emission. Here, we report the first experimental demonstration of two-photon quantum interference of photon pairs emitted via biexcitons in the semiconductor CuCl. Besides applying Fourier transform to quantum interference patterns, we reconstruct the intensity spectrum of the biexciton luminescence in the two-photon sum or difference frequency. We discuss the connection between the reconstructed spectra and exciton states in CuCl as well as the capability of quantum interferometry in solid-state spectroscopy.

arXiv:2109.03715Sep 8, 20210 citations

Polarization-Controlled Temporal-Mode Interference with Quantum States of Light

Tayyab Yahya

Spatial double-slit experiments have been central to understanding wave-particle duality, demonstrating how single photons interfere in transverse momentum when given two spatially separated alternatives. Analogue demonstrations have shown the corresponding relationship in the time-frequency domain with classical electric fields. Extending this to quantum states of light reveals how different photon states acquire different phases through the same temporal separation, producing distinct spectral interference signatures. In this work, we investigate temporal interference with three different quantum states of light — a single-photon state, a separable two-photon state, and a two-photon NOON state — all on the same physical platform and with the same temporal delay. Experimentally, we prepare ultrafast pulses of photon states in polarization and use the birefringent delay of beta-barium borate (BBO) crystals to introduce a femtosecond temporal separation between the orthogonal polarization components. A polarization projection in a superposition basis then removes the which-time information and produces spectral interference, providing an analogue of the temporal double slit. The photon pairs are generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in a Sagnac interferometer, tuned to produce all three quantum states by adjusting the pump polarization, with the NOON state reaching a measured visibility of (88.99 ± 0.21)%. The spectra are recorded through dispersive Fourier transform using a long single-mode fiber and single photon detectors. The measured spectra show that single-photon and separable two-photon states both oscillate at the same rate, consistent with a phase given by the photon frequency multiplied by the temporal delay, with the two-photon spectral pattern being the product of the individual single-photon spectra. The NOON state, in contrast, oscillates twice as fast, governed by the collective phase of the two photons, which depends on the sum of their frequencies rather than on the individual photon spectral modulations, and which reduces to twice the single-photon phase along the equal-frequency diagonal. This doubled phase accumulation makes NOON-state temporal interference directly relevant to quantum-enhanced sensing and metrology. Different polarization projections further allow tuning of the interference patterns across all three states.

Jan 1, 20260 citations