We investigated the transmission of single and two photons in a one-dimensional waveguide that is coupled with a Kerr micro-ring resonator and a polarized quantum emitter. In both cases, a phase shift occurs, and the non-reciprocal behavior of the system is attributed to the unbalanced coupling between the quantum emitter and the resonator. Our analytical solutions and numerical simulations demonstrate that the nonlinear resonator scattering causes the energy redistribution of the two photons through the bound state. When the system is in the two-photon resonance state, the polarization of the correlated two photons is locked to their propagation direction, leading to non-reciprocity. As a result, our configuration can act as an optical diode.
We investigated the transmission of single and two photons in a one-dimensional waveguide that is coupled with a Kerr micro-ring resonator and a polarized quantum emitter. In both cases, a phase shift occurs, and the non-reciprocal behavior of the system is attributed to the unbalanced coupling between the quantum emitter and the resonator. Our analytical solutions and numerical simulations demonstrate that the nonlinear resonator scattering causes the energy redistribution of the two photons through the bound state. When the system is in the two-photon resonance state, the polarization of the correlated two photons is locked to their propagation direction, leading to non-reciprocity. As a result, our configuration can act as an optical diode.
We study the coherent transport of one or two photons in a one-dimensional waveguide chirally coupled to a nonlinear resonator. Analytic solutions of the one-photon and two-photon scattering is derived. Although the resonator acts as a non-reciprocal phase shifter, light transmission is reciprocal at one-photon level. However, the forward and reverse transmitted probabilities for two photons incident from either the left side or the right side of the nonlinear resonator are nonreciprocal due to the energy redistribution of the two-photon bound state. Hence, the nonlinear resonator acts as an optical diode at two-photon level.
We investigate few-photon scattering properties in two one-dimensional waveguides chirally coupled to a nonlinear cavity. The quantum states of scattered few photons are solved analytically via a real-space approach, and the solution indicates the few-photon reflection and transmission properties. When inputting two photons of equal energy to resonate with the cavity, the propagation characteristics of the two photons will be interesting, which is different from the previous anti-bunching effects with a quantum emitter. More importantly, when the total energy of the two incident photons equals the energy of a nonlinear cavity accommodating two photons, influence of the bound state will become larger to result in disappearance of antibunching effect. However, the bound state has no effect on probability of routing to another waveguide.
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.
We investigate the generation of nonreciprocal single photons in the chiral waveguide-cavity-emitter system. Due to the chirality of light-emitter interactions, photons in the left direction couple to a cavity which induces only linear optical effects, while photons in the right direction couple to a cavity-emitter system which can generate optical nonlinearity. In the regime of single-photon transmission, photons in the left direction are absorbed by the cavity at the resonance frequency, while photons in the right direction are transmitted due to the Rabi splitting. In the regime of two-photon transmission, optical linearity in the left direction cannot produce photon-photon interactions and does not change the statistics of photons. However, the effective repulsive interaction between photons can be produced by the optical nonlinearity in the right direction, suppressing two-photon transmission (photon blockade). Physically, the photon-photon bound state, which emerges due to the strong-photon-photon correlation mediated by the cavity-emitter system, plays a key role in generation of photon blockade at the resonance frequency. As a result, nonreciprocal single photons can be realized in the combination of single-photon transmission and photon blockade at the resonance frequency. Additionally, photon-photon interactions are sensitive to the width of the wave packet since photons should coincide at the interaction site.
We study coherent few-photon transport in a dissipative nonlinear cavity coupled to a 1D waveguide, deriving analytical solutions that reveal how cavity dissipation regulates the few-photon diode effect. Key findings show that under Γ/𝜆 = 1 (Γ:waveguide-cavity coupling, 𝜆: dissipation) and 𝛿1 = 0Γ:(1) For single photons, left incidence yields perfect transmission while right incidence causes complete dissipation absorption, forming an efficient single-photon diode;(2) For two photons under single-photon resonance, left incidence allows unimpeded transmission whereas right incidence results in near-total dissipation (> 99%)leaving only a faint bound state, maintaining strong diode characteristics despite minimal transmission. The condition Γ/𝜆 = 1 optimizes directional suppression via cavity dissipation, providing a theoretical foundation for quantum diode devices in integrated quantum optics and information processing.