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Optics Express

Single-photon switches, beam splitters, and circulators based on the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect

Yu Lu Hu, W. Z. Jia, Cong-Hua Yan

Published Mar 1, 2023• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Single-photon devices such as switches, beam splitters, and circulators are fundamental components to construct photonic integrated quantum networks. In this paper, two V-type three-level atoms coupled to a waveguide are proposed to simultaneously realize these functions as a multifunctional and reconfigurable single-photon device. When both the two atoms are driven by the external coherent fields, the difference in the phases of the coherent driving induces the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect. Based on the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect and setting the two-atom distance to match the constructive or destructive interference conditions among photons travelling along different paths, a single-photon switch is achieved since the incident single photon can be controlled from complete transmission to complete reflection by adjusting the amplitudes and phases of the driving fields. When properly changing the amplitudes and phases of the driving fields, the incident photons are split equally into multiple components as a beam splitter operated with different frequencies. Meanwhile, the single-photon circulator with reconfigurable circulation directions can also be obtained.

DOI
10.1364/oe.485839

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Single-photon devices such as switches, beam splitters, and circulators are fundamental components to construct photonic integrated quantum networks. In this paper, two V-type three-level atoms coupled to a waveguide are proposed to simultaneously realize these functions as a multifunctional and reconfigurable single-photon device. When both the two atoms are driven by the external coherent fields, the difference in the phases of the coherent driving induces the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect. Based on the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect and setting the two-atom distance to match the constructive or destructive interference conditions among photons travelling along different paths, a single-photon switch is achieved since the incident single photon can be controlled from complete transmission to complete reflection by adjusting the amplitudes and phases of the driving fields. When properly changing the amplitudes and phases of the driving fields, the incident photons are split equally into multiple components as a beam splitter operated with different frequencies. Meanwhile, the single-photon circulator with reconfigurable circulation directions can also be obtained.
We show that nonreciprocal unidirectional single-photon quantum transport can be achieved with the photonic Aharonov-Bohm effect. The system consists of a 1D waveguide coupling to two three-level atoms of the V-type. The two atoms, in addition, are each driven by an external coherent field. We show that the phase of the external coherent field provides a gauge potential for the photon states. With a proper choice of the phase difference between the two coherent fields, the transport of a single photon can exhibit unity contrast in its transmissions for the two propagation directions.
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.
A beam splitter is a key component used to direct and combine light paths in various optical and microwave systems. It plays a crucial role in devices like interferometers, such as the Mach–Zehnder and Hong–Ou–Mandel setups, where it splits light into different paths for interference measurements. These measurements are vital for precise phase and coherence testing in both classical and quantum optical experiments. In this work, we present a nonlinear beam splitter and beam combiner utilizing a frequency-tunable superconducting artificial atom in a one-dimensional open waveguide. Probed with coherent states at the single-photon level (average photon number ⟨N⟩ ≪1), this device demonstrates highly tunable transparency, ranging from near unity to complete reflection. Additionally, the beam combiner can merge two coherent beams, generating interference fringes as the relative phase between them varies.
We present the model that two-level system (TLS) nonlocally interacts with one-dimensional coupled-resonator array (CRA). The coherent transport of single-photon inside CRA is well controlled by the state of TLS, which functions as quantum switch. Spin up and spin down correspond to switch on and switch off respectively, or vice versa, which originate from the constructive interference and the destructive interference of two coupling paths. We improve the fidelity of quantum switch by preadjusting the frequency of resonators which couple to TLS. Quantum switch realizes quantum beam splitter when TLS is in the superposition state. The single-photon wave packet would entangle with qubit and propagate to the remote resonators.
Beam splitters are key elements in optical and photonic systems and are therefore employed in both classical and quantum technologies. Depending on the intended application, these devices can split incident light according to its power, polarization state, or wavelength. In this work, we theoretically present a type of beam splitter capable of separating a light beam into its two-mode bright and dark components. We propose a prototype based on an optical cross-cavity system resonantly coupled to a $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}$-type three-level atom. The dark component of the incoming light is transmitted because the antisymmetric collective mode of the cavity setup is decoupled from the atom. Meanwhile, the bright component is reflected due to a quantum interference, which arises from the high cooperativity between the atom and the symmetric collective mode of the cavity setup. Although the device requires only a two-level atom to operate, using a three-level atom allows the device to be turned on or off by controlling the atomic ground states. Our results pave the way for applications of beam splitters that leverage the collective properties of light. Manipulating and exploiting this additional degree of freedom can advance the field of quantum optics and contribute to the development of quantum technologies.
All-optical manipulation of a single-photon quantum transport is of fundamental importance in quantum nanophotonics. Here, a system consisting of a single-mode waveguide coupling with a V-type three-level atom is proposed, where two excited states of the atom are strongly driven by the external coherent field. Transmission and reflection spectra for the output photon at different frequency components, including virtual transitions induced by the ultrastrong driving, are calculated. The interaction between the waveguide photon and the driven atom experiences quantum interferences, which leads to a variety of capabilities for manipulating the single-photon transport in the spectral domain. We perform simulations to demonstrate the possibilities of achieving desired frequency conversions as well as generating different correlated single-photon states by using external drive field at chosen strength. Our work therefore studies the single-photon transport in a strongly driven atom–waveguide system and shows applications for all-optically manipulating the single photon in the field of quantum information processing.