Summary form only given. Induced coherence (IC) between two spatially separated but indistinguishable spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) processes underpins the recent revival of nonlinear interferometry and has led to new applications in quantum imaging and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy [1,2]. These applications exploit induced coherence and the spectral or spatial correlations between signal and idler photons generated through SPDC. Here, we theoretically describe the phenomenon of IC in a general way by making use of a quantum mechanical approach based on the classical Green's function (GF) of the system [3,4]. Our formalism is well suited for treating generic linear optical properties of a system, including loss, and studying their influence on the IC phenomena. Moreover, our approach can account for arbitrary spatial profiles of the nonlinearity and hence can be used to describe generalized IC experiments with different number of photon-pair sources. Here we propose a sensing experiment using a single nonlinear waveguide [5] and investigate IC using our formalism. We find that in this case a substance under test inside or surrounding the waveguide can affect the IC during the generation stage along the nonlinear waveguide, making this a compact scheme for MIR spectroscopy without the need for MIR detectors.
Summary form only given. Induced coherence (IC) between two spatially separated but indistinguishable spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) processes underpins the recent revival of nonlinear interferometry and has led to new applications in quantum imaging and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy [1,2]. These applications exploit induced coherence and the spectral or spatial correlations between signal and idler photons generated through SPDC. Here, we theoretically describe the phenomenon of IC in a general way by making use of a quantum mechanical approach based on the classical Green's function (GF) of the system [3,4]. Our formalism is well suited for treating generic linear optical properties of a system, including loss, and studying their influence on the IC phenomena. Moreover, our approach can account for arbitrary spatial profiles of the nonlinearity and hence can be used to describe generalized IC experiments with different number of photon-pair sources. Here we propose a sensing experiment using a single nonlinear waveguide [5] and investigate IC using our formalism. We find that in this case a substance under test inside or surrounding the waveguide can affect the IC during the generation stage along the nonlinear waveguide, making this a compact scheme for MIR spectroscopy without the need for MIR detectors.
The emissions of two identical spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) sources pumped coherently, e.g. with the same beam (c.f. Fig. 1(a)), show interference in both, the signal and idler light. This phenomenon results from the indistinguishability of the photon pairs emitted by the identical sources [1]. If a medium between the two SPDC sources absorbs the idler light, the photon pairs from the first and second SPDC source become distinguishable and the interference contrast decreases for both, signal and idler light. By measuring the signal light spectrum in the visible or near-infrared (NIR) range and the corresponding interference contrast, we obtain the information about the idler light absorption of the analyte in the mid-infrared (MIR). Hereby, we enable spectroscopy in the MIR using a standard silicon detector, making detection easier and more efficient than using typical MIR detectors [2].
Metrology with undetected photons is an emerging technique that leverages quantum effects and photon correlations (entanglement) to retrieve valuable information in a target spectral range (e.g., mid-infrared, mid-IR) using measurements in an easily accessible domain (e.g., visible, near-IR). The underlying quantum process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) is utilized to generate non-degenerate correlated signal and idler photons to serve as detection and probing photons, respectively. Sensing with undetected photons enables important advantages, such as ultra-low probe powers, room-temperature operation, and shot-noise-limited detection. In this contribution, we apply a quantum nonlinear interferometer based on an SPDC source to perform applied mid-IR spectroscopy, mid-IR microscopy, and mid-IR optical coherence tomography (OCT) as among the most promising techniques for quantum-based routine non-destructive testing. Moreover, we characterize the system, benchmark it against classical systems, and provide a prospective outlook for this new technology.
Recent years have seen the development of quantum sensing concepts utilizing nonlinear interferometers based on correlated photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). Using SPDC far from frequency degeneracy allows a “division of labor” between the mid-infrared photon for the strongest sample interaction and the correlated near-infrared photon for low-noise detection. The small number of photons provided by SPDC and the resulting inferior signal-to-noise ratio are, however, a limiting factor preventing the wide applicability of the novel sensing concept. Here, we demonstrate a nonlinear interferometer based on pump-enhanced SPDC with strongly improved emission rates while maintaining broadband spontaneous emission. For validation of the concept, we demonstrate high-resolution mid-infrared spectroscopy with near-infrared detection, showcasing improved accuracy. Although the number of mid-infrared photons is about five orders of magnitude smaller than in classical spectrometers, the sensitivity of the quantum spectrometer becomes comparable, marking an essential step toward real-world applications.
Sensing applications in the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range are challenging due to the high cost and low performance of the available light sources and detectors. This issue can be bypassed by utilizing the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) to generate tailored MIR-NIR photon-pairs. The nature of SPDC enforces the generation of frequency-entanglement between these paired photons which can be used for spectroscopy: Within a nonlinear interferometric configuration, the MIR radiation is employed for the illumination of a specific material, whereas the NIR radiation is analyzed using a conventional spectrometer. This technique, which is referred to as sensing with ”undetected photons”, so far relied on a breadboard optical setup that is both space-consuming, heavy and complex. Here we present the design, manufacturing and application of a miniaturized quantum light module, with a footprint of less than 80 x 60 mm², which is powered by a direct emitting diode laser at 720 nm. The module contains the nonlinear crystal as the quantum light source, the optical path for the NIR beam, and mechanical connectors leading to the MIR sensing arm. It also provides an interconnection to a spectrometer for the information-carrying NIR photons. This study presents insights into the optical design of the module, its manufacturing and the nonlinear optics quantum light source. The module emits a MIR-NIR photon-pair rate of 1.7 × 109 s−1 W−1, which allows for the implementation of time-efficient sensing applications. The design is optimized for a first application - the detection of synthetic polymers in aqueous solutions, which will be illustrated by concepts for the detection of micro-plastics in wastewater in the field with a mobile device. The potential for integrating a sophisticated, non-linear optical interference configuration into a user-friendly micro-module paves the way for the development of industry-ready setups. This enables a variety of other applications, which are covered by sensing with undetected photons.
We present a generalized understanding of the induced-coherence (IC) effect, aiming to find new strategies for engineering and optimizing the IC response of nonlinear systems. We establish that sensing the cross density of states (CDOS) of the field lies at the core of IC and that it is the spatial profile of the nonlinearity that determines how this CDOS information is sampled. Based on our findings, we identify integrated nonlinear waveguides as a versatile and suitable platform for spectroscopy based on IC and show that our generalized treatment allows us to optimize the sensing performance. Our results open the way for the design of compact IC-based spectroscopic devices with customized responses.
We report an experimental demonstration of wavelength variable generation and detection of photon pairs in the visible and mid-infrared (MIR) regions over a wide spectral range of 2–5 µm via spontaneous parametric downconversion. Despite the recent increase in interest in such a photon-pair source, there have been few detailed evaluations of emitted photons generated via the downconversion process in the low gain regime, due to the lack of suitable single-photon detectors. By changing the angle of the nonlinear crystal, we continuously tune the phase-matching condition and generate photon pairs as signal photons in the wavelength range of 600–965 nm and idler photons in the wavelength range of 1186–4694 nm. We evaluate the generated photon pairs using single and coincidence counts by superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors up to a wavelength of 2 µm and detect the intensity using an InSb detector with a lock-in detection system up to 5 µm. From this analysis, a pair generation rate of 10 5 s − 1 per mW of pump power is experimentally obtained for this wavelength range. This work provides a basis for the realization of applications such as heralded MIR single-photon sources, infrared imaging, and infrared spectroscopy based on quantum technologies in the MIR region.