Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Observation of spectral asymmetry in cw-pumped type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Zhi Gao Zhao, Kent A. Meyer, William Barclay Whitten, Robert W. Shaw, Ryan S. Bennink, Warren P. Grice

Published Jun 18, 2008• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We report on a spectral asymmetry in cw-pumped type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion. We observe that when the pump beam is focused, the spectra of ordinary and extraordinary down-converted photons broaden unequally. Theoretical analysis indicates that this asymmetry can be attributed to the difference in the angular dispersion (walk-off) of the two kinds of photons, coupled with the well-known correlation between wavelength and emission direction.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.77.063828

Related papers

Spectral and spatial effects in spontaneous parametric down-conversion with a focused pump

Warren P. Grice, Ryan S. Bennink, Zhi Gao Zhao +3 more

Photons produced in the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) are typically entangled in multiple degrees of freedom. Although polarization is often the parameter of interest, the presence of spectral or spatial entanglement can complicate experiments, either by reducing the visibility of certain interference effects or by reducing collection efficiency. Several recent works have shown that the collection efficiency can be improved by focusing the pump beam. This approach has the added benefit of increasing the bandwidths of the emitted photons. We show that, in the case of type II SPDC, a focused pump can result in different spatial profiles for the signal and idler. If the crystal is configured for emission of polarization-entangled photon pairs, this effect will reduce the fidelity of that entanglement. Moreover, this spatial asymmetry leads to different spectral profiles for the two photons, even when the pump is monochromatic. The spectral and spatial asymmetries can be attributed to the difference in the angular dispersion (walk-off) of the two polarizations, along with a strong correlation between wavelength and emission direction. We also examine the link between spatial entanglement and single-mode coupling efficiency. We find that efficiency is maximized when spatial entanglement can be eliminated. For the case in which walk-off does not play a role, this can be accomplished by properly focusing the pump.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Aug 1, 2008•3 citations

Measurement of the spectral properties of the two-photon state generated via type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Yoon-Ho Kim, Warren P. Grice

We report the complete measurement of the spectral properties of photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The measurements, which include not only single-photon spectra, but also two-photon joint spectra, were performed for both cw and ultrafast pumping configurations. In agreement with theoretical predictions, the spectra for the ultrafast pumped case reveal asymmetries not present with cw pumping.

Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference•Dec 10, 2005•0 citations

Measurement of the spectral properties of the two-photon state generated via type II spontaneous parametric downconversion

Yoon-Ho Kim, Warren P. Grice

We report complete measurement of the spectral properties of photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric downconversion. The measurements, which include not only single-photon spectra but also two-photon joint spectra, were performed for both cw and ultrafast-pumping configurations. In agreement with theoretical predictions, the spectra for the ultrafast-pumped case reveal asymmetries that are not present with cw pumping.

Optics Letters•Apr 15, 2005•121 citations

How focused pumping affects type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion

P. S. K. Lee, Martin P. van Exter, J. P. Woerdman

We demonstrate that the transition from plane-wave to focused pumping in type-II down-conversion is analogous to the transition from cw to pulsed pumping. We show experimentally that focused pumping leads to asymmetric broadening of both the ordinary and extraordinary light distribution. It hardly affects the entanglement quality if proper spatial filtering is applied.

Physical Review A•Sep 8, 2005•43 citations

Spectral properties of entangled photons generated via type-I frequency-nondegenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion

So-Young Baek, Yoon Ho Kim

Spectral properties of entangled photons generated via type-I frequency-nondegenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion are studied theoretically and experimentally. For monochromatic pumping, the joint spectral intensity function for the photon pair is found to be symmetric even though each photon has a different central wavelength. The single-photon (first-order) interference shows the familiar triangular interferogram, usually associated with the cw-pumped frequency-degenerate type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion. For broadband (ultrafast) pumping, on the other hand, the joint spectral intensity function is shown to be asymmetric, similar to the case of ultrafast-pumped frequency-degenerate type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The spectral studies reported here are expected to play an important role in developing ultrabright two-color entangled photon sources.

Physical Review A•Sep 9, 2009•24 citations

Measurement of the spectral properties of the two-photon state generated via type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Yoon-Ho Kim, Warren P. Grice

Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) is the most often used source of entangled photon states in quantum optics. Recently, it has been suggested in theory that the reduction of polarization entanglement between the photon pair generated via the type-II SPDC process pumped by a ultrafast laser is due to the asymmetry in the joint spectrum function, which is the indicative of the frequency entanglement between the two photons. In this paper, we report the measurement of the joint spectrum function (i.e., direct observation of the degree of frequency entanglement) of the two-photon state of type-II SPDC in both cw- and ultrafast-laser pumping conditions. We observed that, in agreement with the theory, the degree of frequency entanglement (the shape of the joint spectrum function) is indeed different for cw- and ultrafast-pumped type-II SPDC. Our results are of importance in "engineering" the two-photon state for specific quantum applications, such as quantum cryptography.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Aug 18, 2005•9 citations
We report on a spectral asymmetry in cw-pumped type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion. We observe that when the pump beam is focused, the spectra of ordinary and extraordinary down-converted photons broaden unequally. Theoretical analysis indicates that this asymmetry can be attributed to the difference in the angular dispersion (walk-off) of the two kinds of photons, coupled with the well-known correlation between wavelength and emission direction.
Photons produced in the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) are typically entangled in multiple degrees of freedom. Although polarization is often the parameter of interest, the presence of spectral or spatial entanglement can complicate experiments, either by reducing the visibility of certain interference effects or by reducing collection efficiency. Several recent works have shown that the collection efficiency can be improved by focusing the pump beam. This approach has the added benefit of increasing the bandwidths of the emitted photons. We show that, in the case of type II SPDC, a focused pump can result in different spatial profiles for the signal and idler. If the crystal is configured for emission of polarization-entangled photon pairs, this effect will reduce the fidelity of that entanglement. Moreover, this spatial asymmetry leads to different spectral profiles for the two photons, even when the pump is monochromatic. The spectral and spatial asymmetries can be attributed to the difference in the angular dispersion (walk-off) of the two polarizations, along with a strong correlation between wavelength and emission direction. We also examine the link between spatial entanglement and single-mode coupling efficiency. We find that efficiency is maximized when spatial entanglement can be eliminated. For the case in which walk-off does not play a role, this can be accomplished by properly focusing the pump.
Spectral properties of entangled photons generated via type-I frequency-nondegenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion are studied theoretically and experimentally. For monochromatic pumping, the joint spectral intensity function for the photon pair is found to be symmetric even though each photon has a different central wavelength. The single-photon (first-order) interference shows the familiar triangular interferogram, usually associated with the cw-pumped frequency-degenerate type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion. For broadband (ultrafast) pumping, on the other hand, the joint spectral intensity function is shown to be asymmetric, similar to the case of ultrafast-pumped frequency-degenerate type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The spectral studies reported here are expected to play an important role in developing ultrabright two-color entangled photon sources.
Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) is the most often used source of entangled photon states in quantum optics. Recently, it has been suggested in theory that the reduction of polarization entanglement between the photon pair generated via the type-II SPDC process pumped by a ultrafast laser is due to the asymmetry in the joint spectrum function, which is the indicative of the frequency entanglement between the two photons. In this paper, we report the measurement of the joint spectrum function (i.e., direct observation of the degree of frequency entanglement) of the two-photon state of type-II SPDC in both cw- and ultrafast-laser pumping conditions. We observed that, in agreement with the theory, the degree of frequency entanglement (the shape of the joint spectrum function) is indeed different for cw- and ultrafast-pumped type-II SPDC. Our results are of importance in "engineering" the two-photon state for specific quantum applications, such as quantum cryptography.