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Laser Physics Letters

Tunable single-photon diode and circulator via chiral waveguide–emitter couplings

Xin Wang, Tao Shui, Ling Li, Xiyun Li, Zhen Yu Wu, Wen‐Xing Yang

Published May 5, 2020• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Abstract We propose a scheme to realize a single-photon diode and circulator using two waveguides chirally coupled to a five-level M -type atom. Two external control fields are introduced to drive the emitter. Non-reciprocal single-photon propagation can be completed in our scheme, which underpins the single-photon diode and circulator. The single-photon diode can work well at special frequency points of the incident photon simultaneously. We can modulate the Rabi frequencies and detunings of the control fields to satisfy various values of frequency points of the incident photon. In addition, the non-reciprocity of the photon propagation can be turned off or on when the control fields are turned off or on. A single-frequency filter can filter out a special frequency for the incident photon by adjusting the detunings of the control fields. The single-photon circulator can realize photon propagation in the pathways 1 → 2 , 2 → 3 , 3 → 4 , 4 → 1 with probability 100%. The properties of the circulator can be modulated by adjusting the Rabi frequencies and detunings of the control fields.

DOI
10.1088/1612-202x/ab8557

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Abstract We propose a scheme to realize a single-photon diode and circulator using two waveguides chirally coupled to a five-level M -type atom. Two external control fields are introduced to drive the emitter. Non-reciprocal single-photon propagation can be completed in our scheme, which underpins the single-photon diode and circulator. The single-photon diode can work well at special frequency points of the incident photon simultaneously. We can modulate the Rabi frequencies and detunings of the control fields to satisfy various values of frequency points of the incident photon. In addition, the non-reciprocity of the photon propagation can be turned off or on when the control fields are turned off or on. A single-frequency filter can filter out a special frequency for the incident photon by adjusting the detunings of the control fields. The single-photon circulator can realize photon propagation in the pathways 1 → 2 , 2 → 3 , 3 → 4 , 4 → 1 with probability 100%. The properties of the circulator can be modulated by adjusting the Rabi frequencies and detunings of the control fields.
We investigate a single-photon diode realized by a one-dimensional waveguide chirally coupled to NNN spatially separated $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$-type three-level emitters. An external laser is introduced to drive the emitters. The single photons moving in opposite directions show different transmission probabilities, which underpins the diode behavior. In the case of a single emitter, the single-photon diode works well at specific frequency points, which are tunable by the external laser. In the case of multiple emitters, the optimal-working-frequency point of the diode can be turned to a broad band.
We investigate coherent controlling single-photon nonreciprocal propagation in a pair of waveguides chirally coupled to an atom by using a classical optical field. The results show that for a nonresonant photon, the perfect single-photon nonreciprocal propagation can be realized by adjusting the Rabi frequency and detuning. Furthermore, the nonreciprocal propagation is switchable by using the classic field. The calculated results also show that the system can be used as a frequency filter to filter out some special frequencies for single-photon nonreciprocal propagation. The influences of nonperfect chiral coupling and dissipations on the nonreciprocal propagation are also shown.
The single photon scattering properties in a waveguide coupling to a giant atom with a three-level system are investigated theoretically. One of the transitions of the giant atom couples to the waveguide at two points while the other one is driven by a classical field. Using the analytical expressions of the single photon scattering amplitudes, the conditions for realizing perfect single photon nonreciprocal scattering are discussed in both Markovian regime and non-Markovian regime. In the Markovian regime, the perfect non-reciprocity can be realized by adjusting the external classical field, the energy dissipation of the giant atom, the phase difference between the two coupling strengths and the accumulated phase resulting from the photon propagating between the two coupling points. In the non-Markovian regime, the non-reciprocal scattering phenomenon becomes more abundant due to the time delay. However, the analytical results show that the perfect non-reciprocity can still be achieved. When the incident photon is resonant with the giant atom, the nonreciprocity can be switched by controlling the classical field. For the non-resonant single photon, one can adjust the Rabi frequency of the classical field to obtain the perfect non-reciprocal single photon transmission. Our work provides a manner to realize a frequency tunable single photon diode.
Single-photon transport in nonideal chiral photon-atom interaction structures generally contains information backflow and thus limits the capabilities to transfer information between distant emitters in cascaded quantum networks. Here, in the nonideal chiral case, a VVV-type atom coupled to a waveguide is proposed to realize completely unidirectional transmission of the single photons in a superposition state of different frequencies. A microwave field is introduced to drive the two excited states of the atom and results in photon conversion between two transitions. By adjusting the Rabi frequency and the phase of the external driving field, the transport behaviors of incident photons with specific frequencies can be optimized to complete transmission or reflection. Based on the constructive interferences between photons from different traveling paths, the transmission probabilities of the specific-frequency photons could be enhanced. Due to photon conversions with compensating the dissipations and ensuring the complete destructive interference, the ideal unidirectional transmission contrast can be maintained to $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1$, even when the atom has dissipations into the nonwaveguide modes.
We investigate single- and two-photon transport in a one-dimensional waveguide chirally coupled to dissipative Rydberg atom pairs. Using the Laplace transform method, we analytically solve the single- and two-photon scattering problems. Our results show that, by leveraging dissipative effects and the chiral coupling structure, the system can act as a perfect single-photon diode, i.e. the transmittance is unity from one side and zero from the other. A two-photon diode is also realized. Interestingly, the transmitted probability density of the diode increases significantly when atomic dissipation is included. Notably, in the absence of dissipation, transmission is primarily due to correlated photons, whereas in the dissipative system, it is dominated by freely propagating photons. Furthermore, the Rydberg coupling between the atoms, which is experimentally tunable, can be used to modulate the diode effect. Finally, we find that reducing the width of the incident photon wavepacket further enhances the transmission probability density of the two-photon diode. The proposed scheme has potential for applications in quantum communication.
Abstract In a chiral one-dimensional atom, a photon propagating in one direction interacts with the atom; a photon propagating in the other direction does not. Chiral quantum optics has applications in creating nanoscopic single-photon routers, circulators, phase-shifters, and two-photon gates. Here, we implement chiral quantum optics using a low-noise quantum dot in an open microcavity. We demonstrate the non-reciprocal absorption of single photons, a single-photon diode. The non-reciprocity, the ratio of the transmission in the forward-direction to the transmission in the reverse direction, is as high as 10.7 dB. This is achieved by tuning the photon-emitter coupling in situ to the optimal operating condition (β = 0.5). Proof that the non-reciprocity arises from a single quantum emitter lies in the photon statistics—ultralow-power laser light propagating in the diode’s reverse direction results in a highly bunched output (g(2)(0) = 101), showing that the single-photon component is largely removed.