Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Optics Express

Strong antibunching effect under the combination of conventional and unconventional photon blockade

Hongyan Zhu, Xiaomiao Li, Zigeng Li, Fan Wang, Xiaolan Zhong

Published May 24, 2023• 16 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Photon blockade (PB), an effective method of generating antibunching effect, is a critical way to construct a single photon source. The PB effect can be divided into conventional PB effect (CPB) and unconventional PB effect (UPB). Most studies focus on designing systems to successfully enhance CPB or UPB effect individually. However, CPB extremely depends on the nonlinearity strength of the Kerr materials to achieve strong antibunching effect while UPB relies on quantum interference beset with the high probability of the vacuum state. Here, we propose a method to utilize the relevance and complementarity of CPB and UPB to realize these two types simultaneously. We employ a hybrid Kerr nonlinearity two-cavity system. Because of the mutual assistance of two cavities, CPB and UPB can coexist in the system under certain states. In this way, for the same Kerr material, we reduce the value of the second-order correlation function due to CPB by three orders of magnitude without losing the mean photon number due to the presence of UPB, so the advantages of both PB effects are fully reflected in our system, which is a huge performance boost for single photons.

DOI
10.1364/oe.493612

Related papers

Enhanced unconventional photon blockade in coupled optical cavities

Li Yan, Man-tong Zhao, Lu‐Gang Cai +1 more

Abstract Quantum information processing, a key component of quantum information science, has attracted considerable attention. Its realization requires physical platforms and resources, among which optical systems and single-photon sources based on photon blockade (PB) have been widely employed. Here we investigate PB behaviors in a coupled optical cavity system driven by both single- and two-photon fields. The optimal conditions for PB are obtained with respect to the two-photon driving strength and cavity-laser detuning via analytical calculations. Using these optimal solutions, we show that a significant PB effect is achievable even with weak Kerr nonlinearity, and confirm that this behavior corresponds to unconventional PB (UPB) through a comparison of the second- and third-order correlation functions. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that UPB can be enhanced by two-photon dissipation. These results provide theoretical strategies for enhancing UPB, and offer insight into its fundamental mechanism.

Physica Scripta•Oct 15, 2026•0 citations

Conventional and unconventional photon blockade effects in quantum optomechanics

Xiang-Xiang Lu, Jia Ni, Feng-Chao Wang +2 more

We theoretically study the photon blockade (PB) effect in a double-cavity optomechanical system with the two-photon driving. By analytical calculations and numerical simulations, the physical mechanisms of conventional photon blockade (CPB) and unconventional photon blockade (UPB) are discussed in detail. And then we obtain the optimal parameter conditions for PB. In our work, there exist both the CPB induced by strong nonlinear interaction and the UPB caused by quantum interference. In particular, we find that CPB and UPB can occur simultaneously under the same parameters. In addition, we also prove that the appropriate values of nonreciprocal coupling and two-photon driving are favorable to the improvement of PB. Our proposal provides an idea for simultaneously realizing CPB and UPB in the optomechanical system and offers a route for constructing high-quality single-photon sources.

Frontiers of Physics•Jul 23, 2025•2 citations

Unconventional photon blockade under the combined effects of optical parametric amplification and two-photon dissipation

Yan Li, Ling-Juan 玲娟 Feng 封, Ling-Juan Feng

Abstract Unconventional photon blockade (UPB) is an important quantum phenomenon that relies on the quantum interference effect. Here, we propose coupling an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) to a Kerr nonlinear single-mode cavity in a two-photon dissipation environment, enabling strong photon antibunching based on the UPB mechanism. The optimal conditions for achieving UPB are first derived analytically. The results are subsequently compared with the second-order correlation function derived from numerical simulations, and excellent agreement is observed. The findings show that UPB is enhanced without significantly reducing the mean photon number. This further demonstrates that the width of the UPB occurrence window increases with increasing OPA coefficient and driving laser intensity. Finally, theoretical analysis reveals the physical mechanism of UPB, showing that the Kerr medium is not the dominant factor for UPB generation in this system. Thus, our work offers valuable theoretical guidance for precisely controlling UPB and optimizing single-photon source performance.

Chinese Physics B•Aug 28, 2026•0 citations

Photon Blockade Mediated by Two-Photon Absorption in an Optical Parametric Amplifier

Wei An, Jie Zhu

Photon blockade (PB) is a quantum effect in strongly nonlinear systems where a single photon prevents the system from being excited to a higher level, generating anti-bunched light fields. It enables the generation of single-photon sources for quantum information processing. Conventional photon blockade (CPB) leverages strong nonlinear interactions to generate an anharmonic energy spectrum. Unconventional photon blockade (UPB) utilizes destructive quantum interference between excitation pathways. Recently, environmentally induced photon blockade (EPB) has emerged as a novel approach, exploiting two-photon absorption (TPA) to realize photon blockade. In this work, we combine UPB and EPB together, considering the TPA effect in the optical parametric amplifier (OPA), thereby achieving a more stable PB with stronger suppression of multi-photon states.

arXiv:2509.15696•Sep 19, 2025•0 citations

Implementation of Composite Photon Blockade Based on Four-wave Mixing System

Hongyu Lina, Zhihai Yao, Xiaoqian Wang +1 more

A high-quality single-photon blockade system can effectively enhance the quality of single-photon sources. Conventional photon blockade(CPB) suffers from low single-photon purity and high requirements for system nonlinearity, while unconventional photon blockade(UPB) has the disadvantage of low brightness. Recent research by [Laser Photon.Rev 14,1900279,2020] demonstrates that UPB can be used to enhance the strength of CPB, thereby improving the purity of single-photon sources. Research by [Opt. Express 30(12),21787,2022] shows that there is an intersection point between CPB and UPB in certain nonlinear systems, where the performance of single photons is better. In this study, we investigated the phenomenon of photon blockade in a non-degenerate four-wave mixing system, where CPB and UPB can occur simultaneously within the same parameter range. We refer to this phenomenon as composite photon blockade. Particularly, when the system achieves composite photon blockade, the value of g(2)(0) is smaller, and there are more single photons. We conducted analytical analysis and numerical calculations to study the conditions for the realization of CPB, UPB, and 2PB in the system, and discussed in detail the influence of system parameters on various blockade effects.

arXiv:2407.05846•Jul 8, 2024•0 citations

Kerr-nonlinearity enhanced conventional photon blockade in a second-order nonlinear system

Hongyu Lin, Xiaoqian Wang, Zhihai Yao +1 more

The conventional photon blockade (CPB) for high-frequency mode is investigated in a second-order nonlinear system with Kerr nonlinearity. By solving the master equation and calculating the zero-delay-time second-order correlation function g(2)(0), we obtain that strong photon antibunching can be achieved in this scheme. The optimal condition for strong antibunching is also calculated analytically and discussed in detail. We find that the Kerr nonlinearity can largely enhance the CPB effect in the high-frequency mode, and this scheme is not sensitive to the reservoir temperature. In addition, when compared with the linear coupled system, the system has obvious advantages in CPB implementation.

arXiv:2001.05892•Optics Express•May 15, 2020•27 citations
Photon blockade (PB), an effective method of generating antibunching effect, is a critical way to construct a single photon source. The PB effect can be divided into conventional PB effect (CPB) and unconventional PB effect (UPB). Most studies focus on designing systems to successfully enhance CPB or UPB effect individually. However, CPB extremely depends on the nonlinearity strength of the Kerr materials to achieve strong antibunching effect while UPB relies on quantum interference beset with the high probability of the vacuum state. Here, we propose a method to utilize the relevance and complementarity of CPB and UPB to realize these two types simultaneously. We employ a hybrid Kerr nonlinearity two-cavity system. Because of the mutual assistance of two cavities, CPB and UPB can coexist in the system under certain states. In this way, for the same Kerr material, we reduce the value of the second-order correlation function due to CPB by three orders of magnitude without losing the mean photon number due to the presence of UPB, so the advantages of both PB effects are fully reflected in our system, which is a huge performance boost for single photons.
Abstract Quantum information processing, a key component of quantum information science, has attracted considerable attention. Its realization requires physical platforms and resources, among which optical systems and single-photon sources based on photon blockade (PB) have been widely employed. Here we investigate PB behaviors in a coupled optical cavity system driven by both single- and two-photon fields. The optimal conditions for PB are obtained with respect to the two-photon driving strength and cavity-laser detuning via analytical calculations. Using these optimal solutions, we show that a significant PB effect is achievable even with weak Kerr nonlinearity, and confirm that this behavior corresponds to unconventional PB (UPB) through a comparison of the second- and third-order correlation functions. Furthermore, our analysis reveals that UPB can be enhanced by two-photon dissipation. These results provide theoretical strategies for enhancing UPB, and offer insight into its fundamental mechanism.
We theoretically study the photon blockade (PB) effect in a double-cavity optomechanical system with the two-photon driving. By analytical calculations and numerical simulations, the physical mechanisms of conventional photon blockade (CPB) and unconventional photon blockade (UPB) are discussed in detail. And then we obtain the optimal parameter conditions for PB. In our work, there exist both the CPB induced by strong nonlinear interaction and the UPB caused by quantum interference. In particular, we find that CPB and UPB can occur simultaneously under the same parameters. In addition, we also prove that the appropriate values of nonreciprocal coupling and two-photon driving are favorable to the improvement of PB. Our proposal provides an idea for simultaneously realizing CPB and UPB in the optomechanical system and offers a route for constructing high-quality single-photon sources.
Abstract Unconventional photon blockade (UPB) is an important quantum phenomenon that relies on the quantum interference effect. Here, we propose coupling an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) to a Kerr nonlinear single-mode cavity in a two-photon dissipation environment, enabling strong photon antibunching based on the UPB mechanism. The optimal conditions for achieving UPB are first derived analytically. The results are subsequently compared with the second-order correlation function derived from numerical simulations, and excellent agreement is observed. The findings show that UPB is enhanced without significantly reducing the mean photon number. This further demonstrates that the width of the UPB occurrence window increases with increasing OPA coefficient and driving laser intensity. Finally, theoretical analysis reveals the physical mechanism of UPB, showing that the Kerr medium is not the dominant factor for UPB generation in this system. Thus, our work offers valuable theoretical guidance for precisely controlling UPB and optimizing single-photon source performance.
Photon blockade (PB) is a quantum effect in strongly nonlinear systems where a single photon prevents the system from being excited to a higher level, generating anti-bunched light fields. It enables the generation of single-photon sources for quantum information processing. Conventional photon blockade (CPB) leverages strong nonlinear interactions to generate an anharmonic energy spectrum. Unconventional photon blockade (UPB) utilizes destructive quantum interference between excitation pathways. Recently, environmentally induced photon blockade (EPB) has emerged as a novel approach, exploiting two-photon absorption (TPA) to realize photon blockade. In this work, we combine UPB and EPB together, considering the TPA effect in the optical parametric amplifier (OPA), thereby achieving a more stable PB with stronger suppression of multi-photon states.
A high-quality single-photon blockade system can effectively enhance the quality of single-photon sources. Conventional photon blockade(CPB) suffers from low single-photon purity and high requirements for system nonlinearity, while unconventional photon blockade(UPB) has the disadvantage of low brightness. Recent research by [Laser Photon.Rev 14,1900279,2020] demonstrates that UPB can be used to enhance the strength of CPB, thereby improving the purity of single-photon sources. Research by [Opt. Express 30(12),21787,2022] shows that there is an intersection point between CPB and UPB in certain nonlinear systems, where the performance of single photons is better. In this study, we investigated the phenomenon of photon blockade in a non-degenerate four-wave mixing system, where CPB and UPB can occur simultaneously within the same parameter range. We refer to this phenomenon as composite photon blockade. Particularly, when the system achieves composite photon blockade, the value of g(2)(0) is smaller, and there are more single photons. We conducted analytical analysis and numerical calculations to study the conditions for the realization of CPB, UPB, and 2PB in the system, and discussed in detail the influence of system parameters on various blockade effects.
The conventional photon blockade (CPB) for high-frequency mode is investigated in a second-order nonlinear system with Kerr nonlinearity. By solving the master equation and calculating the zero-delay-time second-order correlation function g(2)(0), we obtain that strong photon antibunching can be achieved in this scheme. The optimal condition for strong antibunching is also calculated analytically and discussed in detail. We find that the Kerr nonlinearity can largely enhance the CPB effect in the high-frequency mode, and this scheme is not sensitive to the reservoir temperature. In addition, when compared with the linear coupled system, the system has obvious advantages in CPB implementation.