Quantum Nonlinear Optics

Eiichi Hanamura, Yutaka Kawabe, Akio Yamanaka

P. D. Drummond, Mark S. Hillery

Playing a prominent role in communications, quantum science and laser physics, quantum nonlinear optics is an increasingly important field. This book presents a self-contained treatment of field quantization and covers topics such as the canonical formalism for fields, phase-space representations and the encompassing problem of quantization of electrodynamics in linear and nonlinear media. Starting with a summary of classical nonlinear optics, it then explains in detail the calculation techniques for quantum nonlinear optical systems and their applications, quantum and classical noise sources in optical fibers and applications of nonlinear optics to quantum information science. Supplemented by end-of-chapter exercises and detailed examples of calculation techniques in different systems, this book is a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers in nonlinear optics, condensed matter physics, quantum information and atomic physics. A solid foundation in quantum mechanics and classical electrodynamics is assumed, but no prior knowledge of nonlinear optics is required.

高志 近藤

Abhinav Kala, David Sharp, Minho Choi +7 more

Nonlinear interactions between photons are fundamentally weak as the photons do not interact directly with each other, and any interaction is mediated by matter. This has motivated researchers over many decades to search for strongly nonlinear materials (by controlling electronic properties) and optical resonators with strong spatial and temporal confinement of light. An extreme form of nonlinear optics is quantum nonlinear optics, where we can realize nonlinear interaction between single photons. Such quantum nonlinear optics is at the heart of any photonic quantum information system including analog quantum simulation and fault-tolerant quantum computing. While engineering light-matter interactions can effectively create photon-photon interactions, the required photon number to observe any nonlinearity are normally very high, where any quantum-mechanical signature disappears. However, with emerging low-dimensional materials and engineered photonic resonators, the photon number can be reduced to reach the quantum nonlinear optical regime. In this review paper, we discuss different mechanisms exploited in solid-state platforms to attain quantum nonlinear optics. We review emerging materials and optical resonator architectures with different dimensionalities. We also present future research directions and open problems in this field.

Kazuhiko Misawa

Robert W. Boyd

This presentation first reviews the historical development of the field of nonlinear optics, starting from its inception in 1961. It then reviews some of its more recent developments, including especially how nonlinear optics has become a crucial tool for the developing field of quantum technologies. Fundamental quantum processes enabled by nonlinear optics, such as the creation of squeezed and entangled light states, are reviewed. We then illustrate these concepts by means of specific applications, such as the development of secure communication systems based on the quantum states of light.