Coherent Quantum Optics and Technology

Dan E. Browne, Sougato Bose, Florian Mintert +1 more

Nathaniel Robert Miller

Currently, optical technology impacts most of our lives, from light used in scientific measurement to the fiber optic cables that makeup the backbone of the internet. However, as our current optical infrastructure grows, we discover that these technologies are not limitless. However, our current optical technology functions on classical principles, and can be easily improved by incorporating our knowledge of quantum optics. In order to implement quantum technologies, our understanding of quantum coherence must improve. Through this knowledge we can maintain quantum states, and therefore their information, longer. In this dissertation, I will demonstrate that with sufficient knowledge of coherent properties, a simple algebra can be derived which can provide rules for graph reductions on a quantum network graph. Using this knowledge, I then provide a rudimentary algorithm which can find the optimal subgraph for communication on a quantum network. Next, I demonstrate that by measuring the photon statistics and second-order quantum coherence of a field, one can create a neural network capable of distinguishing the light sources on a pixel. Which is then applied to develop an imaging scheme capable of surpassing the Abbe-Rayleigh Criterion. Lastly, I present a multiphoton quantum version of the van Cittert-Zernike theorem. This provides formalism capable of determining the propagation of quantum coherence throughout a system. I then demonstrate the usefulness of the theorem by demonstrating sub-Poissonian statistics created by a linear system with an incident thermal beam, obtainable only by post-selection. Altogether, this provides incite into new applications of coherence to quantum technologies and the formalism to extending our knowledge even further.

Charles Hard Townes, Perry A. Miles, Ramiro Cruz Durán +2 more

Miller, Nathaniel Robert

Currently, optical technology impacts most of our lives, from light used in scientific measurement to the fiber optic cables that makeup the backbone of the internet. However, as our current optical infrastructure grows, we discover that these technologies are not limitless. Astronomers find themselves unable resolve stars that are too close to one another. Meanwhile, the internet is always under threat as our computer technology improves and more complex ways to break encryption emerge, threatening our personal information and infrastructure. However, our current optical technology functions on classical principles, and can be easily improved by incorporating our knowledge of quantum optics. In order to implement quantum technologies, our understanding of quantum coherence must improve. Through this knowledge we can maintain quantum states, and therefore their information, longer. In this dissertation, I will demonstrate that with sufficient knowledge of coherent properties, a simple algebra can be derived which can provide rules for graph reductions on a quantum network graph. Using this knowledge, I then provide a rudimentary algorithm which can find the optimal subgraph for communication on a quantum network. Next, I demonstrate that by measuring the photon statistics and second-order quantum coherence of a field, one can create a neural network capable of distinguishing the light sources on a pixel. Which is then applied to develop an imaging scheme capable of surpassing the Abbe-Rayleigh Criterion. Lastly, I present a multiphoton quantum version of the van Cittert-Zernike theorem. This provides formalism capable of determining the propagation of quantum coherence throughout a system. I then demonstrate the usefulness of the theorem by demonstrating sub-Poissonian statistics created by a linear system with an incident thermal beam, obtainable only by post-selection. Altogether, this provides incite into new applications of coherence to quantum technologies and the formalism to extending our knowledge even further.

Alexey Tiranov, Emanuel Green, Sophie Hermans +8 more

Optically addressable solid-state spins have been extensively studied for quantum technologies, offering unique advantages for quantum computing, communication, and sensing. Advancing these applications is generally limited by finding materials that simultaneously provide lifetime-limited optical and long spin coherences. Here, we introduce 171Yb3+ ions doped into a CaWO4 crystal. We perform high-resolution spectroscopy of the excited state, and demonstrate all-optical coherent control of the electron-nuclear spin ensemble. We find narrow inhomogeneous broadening of the optical transitions of 185 MHz and radiative-lifetime-limited coherence time up to 0.75 ms. Next to this, we measure a spin-transition ensemble line width of 5 kHz and electron-nuclear spin coherence time reaching 0.15 seconds at zero magnetic field between 50 mK and 1 K temperatures. These results demonstrate the potential of 171Yb3+:CaWO4 as a low-noise platform for building quantum technologies with ensemble-based memories, microwave-to-optical transducers, and optically addressable single-ion spin qubits. The authors identify 171Yb3+:CaWO4 as a promising material for quantum technological applications, revealing lifetime-limited optical coherence of 0.75 ms and spin coherence of 0.15 s, highlighting its potential for quantum memories and transducers.

S. Chua