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Soustracteur de photons uniques pour états quantiques multimode dans le domaine spectral

Clément Jacquard

Published Jan 20, 2017• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

During this thesis, we have built and characterized a single-photon subtractor to engineer the quantum states of light. The aim is to perform a pure and spectrally selective photon subtraction on a multimode resource in the spectral domain. This subtractor consists in a parametric sum-frequency interaction between a signal beam and a control beam within a non-linear medium. The optical spectrum of the control beam is shaped using ultrafast pulse shaping. The up-converted photon is filtered and detected by a single-photon detector. The subtractor is therefore the combination of all these successive elements. We have developed a theoretical framework to describe the multimode subtraction of a single photon and showed that it can be summed up by a subtraction matrix in a modal basis independently of the physical implementation. Thanks to this formalism, we have shown that the process can be characterized without measuring the transformed signal beam but simply by using a probe beam whose pulses are also shaped. We carried out a process tomography at the single-photon level for a wide range of different control beams. Our results are correctly described by the theory we developed and demonstrates the purity of the process as well as the agility of the technique we used.

DOI
10.70675/c01c4678z1a21z47bcza4fczc37817d8beea

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A single-photon subtractor for spectrally multimode quantum states

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Soustracteur de photons uniques pour états quantiques multimode dans le domaine spectral Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons construit et caractérisé un soustracteur de photons uniques pour l'ingénierie d'états quantiques de la lumière. Le but étant de réaliser une soustraction de photon pure et spectralement sélective sur une ressource multimode dans le domaine spectral. Ce soustracteur repose sur une interaction paramétrique de somme de fréquence entre un faisceau signal et un faisceau de contrôle au sein d'un milieu non-linéaire. Le spectre du faisceau de contrôle est mis en forme à l'aide d'un procédé de mise en forme d'impulsion. Le photon convertit est filtré et détecté grâce à détecteur de photon unique. Le soustracteur est donc la combinaison de tous ces éléments successifs. Nous avons développé un cadre théorique décrivant la soustraction multimode de photons uniques et montré qu'elle peut être décrite, peu importe l'implémentation, par une matrice de soustraction dans une base de modes. Grâce à ce formalisme, nous avons montré que le processus pouvait être caractérisé sans mesurer le signal transformé mais simplement en lui substituant un faisceau sonde dont les impulsions sont aussi mises en forme. Nous avons réalisé une tomographie du processus au niveau du photon unique pour une large gamme de faisceaux de contrôle différents. Nos résultats sont correctement décrits par la théorie développée et démontre la pureté du processus ainsi que l'agilité de la technique employée.

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Single photons provide a natural platform for quantum communication and quantum networking, as they can be entangled in many degrees of freedom and maintain coherence over long-distance links. However, while their minimal interactions with the environment isolate them from detrimental noise, it can make them difficult to measure and manipulate. In particular, manipulation on the ultrafast timescale is necessary to fully exploit the energy-time (or spectral) photonic degree of freedom. Full control over the spectral properties of single photons is key to many quantum technologies and opens the door to natural high-dimensional quantum encodings. \n \nIn this thesis, we theoretically and experimentally examine the use of nonlinear optical processes mediated by strong laser pulses as a method to control the spectral properties of ultrafast single photons. By mixing single-photon pulses with strong escort pulses that have been shaped through dispersion in a nonlinear crystal, the shape of the escort is imprinted on the photon, resulting in a custom-tailored upconverted pulse. We theoretically examine this process for quadratic spectral phases and show that it has the potential to be simultaneously effective and efficient for the customization of single-photon spectral waveforms, and can be performed in an entanglement-conserving manner. \n \nWe then experimentally demonstrate the range of this technique through three applications. First, we show that sum-frequency generation with shaped pulses can be used to coherently measure time-bin encoded photons with bin separations on the order of picoseconds, well below the timing resolution of our detectors. Secondly, we show that this technique can be adapted to convert a train of pulses to a frequency comb, which can be read out in a straightforward manner using diffraction-based spectrometry. We also show here that this process can be performed in a polarization-maintaining fashion, and demonstrate that entanglement with a partner photon is conserved with high fidelity. Finally, we show that this process can be viewed as a time lens, which modulates a temporal waveform in an analogous fashion to a lens focusing a beam of light. We apply the time lens to a photon from an energy-time entangled pair, and show negative magnification of the joint spectrum through a reversal of the spectral correlations. Such processes could find application in quantum state engineering and high-speed single-photon measurement.

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During this thesis, we have built and characterized a single-photon subtractor to engineer the quantum states of light. The aim is to perform a pure and spectrally selective photon subtraction on a multimode resource in the spectral domain. This subtractor consists in a parametric sum-frequency interaction between a signal beam and a control beam within a non-linear medium. The optical spectrum of the control beam is shaped using ultrafast pulse shaping. The up-converted photon is filtered and detected by a single-photon detector. The subtractor is therefore the combination of all these successive elements. We have developed a theoretical framework to describe the multimode subtraction of a single photon and showed that it can be summed up by a subtraction matrix in a modal basis independently of the physical implementation. Thanks to this formalism, we have shown that the process can be characterized without measuring the transformed signal beam but simply by using a probe beam whose pulses are also shaped. We carried out a process tomography at the single-photon level for a wide range of different control beams. Our results are correctly described by the theory we developed and demonstrates the purity of the process as well as the agility of the technique we used.
Soustracteur de photons uniques pour états quantiques multimode dans le domaine spectral Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons construit et caractérisé un soustracteur de photons uniques pour l'ingénierie d'états quantiques de la lumière. Le but étant de réaliser une soustraction de photon pure et spectralement sélective sur une ressource multimode dans le domaine spectral. Ce soustracteur repose sur une interaction paramétrique de somme de fréquence entre un faisceau signal et un faisceau de contrôle au sein d'un milieu non-linéaire. Le spectre du faisceau de contrôle est mis en forme à l'aide d'un procédé de mise en forme d'impulsion. Le photon convertit est filtré et détecté grâce à détecteur de photon unique. Le soustracteur est donc la combinaison de tous ces éléments successifs. Nous avons développé un cadre théorique décrivant la soustraction multimode de photons uniques et montré qu'elle peut être décrite, peu importe l'implémentation, par une matrice de soustraction dans une base de modes. Grâce à ce formalisme, nous avons montré que le processus pouvait être caractérisé sans mesurer le signal transformé mais simplement en lui substituant un faisceau sonde dont les impulsions sont aussi mises en forme. Nous avons réalisé une tomographie du processus au niveau du photon unique pour une large gamme de faisceaux de contrôle différents. Nos résultats sont correctement décrits par la théorie développée et démontre la pureté du processus ainsi que l'agilité de la technique employée.
The nature of a quantum network, in particular in the continuous variable regime, is governed not only by the light quantum state but also by the measurement process. It can then be chosen after the light source has been generated. Multimode entanglement is not anymore an intrinsic property of the source but a complex interplay between source, measurement and eventually post processing. This new avenue paves the way for adaptive and scalable quantum information processing. However, to reach this ambitious goal, multimode degaussification has to be implemented. Single-photon subtraction and addition have proved to be such key operations, but are usually performed with linear optics elements on single-mode resources. We present a device able to perform mode dependant non Gaussian operation on a spectrally multimode squeezed vacuum states. Sum frequency generation between the state and a bright control beam whose spectrum has been engineered through ultrafast pulse-shaping is performed. The detection of a single converted photon heralds the success of the operation. The resulting multimode quantum state is analysed with standard homodyne detection whose local oscillator spectrum is independently engineered. The device can be characterized through quantum process tomography using weak multimode coherent states as inputs. Its single-mode character can be quantified and its inherent subtraction modes can be measured. The ability to simultaneously control the state engineering and its detection ensures both flexibility and scalability in the production of highly entangled non-Gaussian quantum states.
Single-photon subtraction plays important roles in optical quantum information processing as it provides a non-Gaussian characteristic in continuous-variable quantum information.While the conventional way of implementing single-photon subtraction based on a low-reflectance beam splitter works properly for a single-mode quantum state, it is unsuitable for a multimode quantum state because a single photon is subtracted from all multiple modes without maintaining their mode coherence.Here, we experimentally implement and characterize a mode-tunable coherent single-photon subtractor based on sum-frequency generation.It can subtract a single photon exclusively from one desired time-frequency mode of light or from a coherent superposition of multiple time-frequency modes.To experimentally characterize the time-frequency modes of the single-photon subtractor, we employ quantum process tomography based on coherent states.The mode-tunable coherent single-photon subtractor will be an essential element for realizing non-Gaussian quantum networks necessary to get a quantum advantage in information processing.
Summary form only given. Single-photon subtracting operation plays important roles in photonic quantum information processing. For example, it enables distillation of entanglement, noiseless amplification of a quantum state, and enhancement of measurement precision. In particular, the non-Gaussian characteristic of the operation is essential for genuine speed-up and universality of continuous-variable quantum computing. Until now, implementation of single-photon subtraction has been limited on a single-mode or a two-mode quantum state, but recently, extension to multiple modes attracts attention [1, 2] in accordance with the availability of multimode quantum states [3].In this work, we implement a mode-tunable coherent single-photon subtractor which can be tuned to subtract a single photon exclusively from one time-frequency mode or coherently from multiple time-frequency modes. To characterize the single-photon subtractor, we introduce a matrix representation (called a subtraction matrix) of a general single-photon subtractor and measure the matrix by employing coherent-state quantum process tomography [5]. We found that characterizing a single-photon subtractor can be significantly simplified compared with the original coherent-state quantum process tomography because the success probability of a single-photon subtractor alone provides complete information of the device.
Single photons provide a natural platform for quantum communication and quantum networking, as they can be entangled in many degrees of freedom and maintain coherence over long-distance links. However, while their minimal interactions with the environment isolate them from detrimental noise, it can make them difficult to measure and manipulate. In particular, manipulation on the ultrafast timescale is necessary to fully exploit the energy-time (or spectral) photonic degree of freedom. Full control over the spectral properties of single photons is key to many quantum technologies and opens the door to natural high-dimensional quantum encodings. \n \nIn this thesis, we theoretically and experimentally examine the use of nonlinear optical processes mediated by strong laser pulses as a method to control the spectral properties of ultrafast single photons. By mixing single-photon pulses with strong escort pulses that have been shaped through dispersion in a nonlinear crystal, the shape of the escort is imprinted on the photon, resulting in a custom-tailored upconverted pulse. We theoretically examine this process for quadratic spectral phases and show that it has the potential to be simultaneously effective and efficient for the customization of single-photon spectral waveforms, and can be performed in an entanglement-conserving manner. \n \nWe then experimentally demonstrate the range of this technique through three applications. First, we show that sum-frequency generation with shaped pulses can be used to coherently measure time-bin encoded photons with bin separations on the order of picoseconds, well below the timing resolution of our detectors. Secondly, we show that this technique can be adapted to convert a train of pulses to a frequency comb, which can be read out in a straightforward manner using diffraction-based spectrometry. We also show here that this process can be performed in a polarization-maintaining fashion, and demonstrate that entanglement with a partner photon is conserved with high fidelity. Finally, we show that this process can be viewed as a time lens, which modulates a temporal waveform in an analogous fashion to a lens focusing a beam of light. We apply the time lens to a photon from an energy-time entangled pair, and show negative magnification of the joint spectrum through a reversal of the spectral correlations. Such processes could find application in quantum state engineering and high-speed single-photon measurement.