Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) plays a pivotal role in the field of quantum optics, especially in generating quantum entangled states. This study delves into utilizing the scattering tensor of nonlinear waveguide arrays to characterize the SPDC process and optimize its efficiency. By computing the pseudo-inverse of the third-order scattering tensor describing the nonlinear arrays for biphoton generation, we determine the optimal pump profile and array conditions that best approximate a desired output biphoton distribution. Counterintuitively, due to the diffraction of the pump beam, we find that the optimal biphoton correlation does not occur at positions corresponding to the maximum pumping in real space within the coupled nonlinear arrays. Our finding demonstrates that the scattering tensor method combined with universal beam-splitter meshes provides a promising route toward reconfigurable integrated quantum light sources.
Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) plays a pivotal role in the field of quantum optics, especially in generating quantum entangled states. This study delves into utilizing the scattering tensor of nonlinear waveguide arrays to characterize the SPDC process and optimize its efficiency. By computing the pseudo-inverse of the third-order scattering tensor describing the nonlinear arrays for biphoton generation, we determine the optimal pump profile and array conditions that best approximate a desired output biphoton distribution. Counterintuitively, due to the diffraction of the pump beam, we find that the optimal biphoton correlation does not occur at positions corresponding to the maximum pumping in real space within the coupled nonlinear arrays. Our finding demonstrates that the scattering tensor method combined with universal beam-splitter meshes provides a promising route toward reconfigurable integrated quantum light sources.
Quantum entanglement became essential in understanding the non-locality of quantum mechanics. In optics, this non-locality can be demonstrated on impressively large length scales, as photons travel with the speed of light and interact only weakly with their environment. Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in nonlinear crystals provides an efficient source for entangled photon pairs, so-called biphotons. However, SPDC can also be implemented in nonlinear arrays of evanescently coupled waveguides which allows the generation and the investigation of correlated quantum walks of such biphotons in an integrated device. Here, we analytically and experimentally demonstrate that the biphoton degrees of freedom are entailed in an additional dimension, therefore the SPDC and the subsequent quantum random walk in one-dimensional arrays can be simulated through classical optical beam propagation in a two-dimensional photonic lattice. Thereby, the output intensity images directly represent the biphoton correlations and exhibit a clear violation of a Bell-like inequality.
∗ both authors contributed equally Quantum entanglement, the non-separability of a multipartite wave function, became essential in understanding the non-locality of quantum mechanics. In optics, this non-locality can be demon-strated on impressively large length scales, as photons travel with the speed of light and interact only weakly with their environment. With the discovery of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in nonlinear crystals, an efficient source for entangled photon pairs, so-called biphotons, be-came available. It has recently been shown that SPDC can also be implemented in nonlinear arrays of evanescently coupled waveguides which allows the generation and the investigation of correlated quantum walks of such biphotons in an integrated device. Here, we analytically and experimentally demonstrate that the biphoton degrees of freedom are entailed in an additional spatial dimension, therefore the SPDC and the subsequent quantum random walk in one-dimensional (1D) arrays can be simulated through classical optical beam propagation in a two-dimensional (2D) photonic lattice. Thereby, the output intensity images directly represent the biphoton correlations and exhibit a clear violation of a Bell-type inequality. PACS numbers: 42.50.-p, 42.82.Et, 42.65.Lm
The generation of multi-photon quantum states in integrated waveguiding structures provides a route to the creation of quantum optical chips. In particular, the simultaneous generation of photons through spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) and their quantum walks in nonlinear waveguide arrays (WGAs) can be used to produce strongly spatially entangled biphoton states [1] with applications for quantum search algorithms [2]. Whereas up to now only arrays of single-mode nonlinear waveguides have been considered for SPDC, in general the waveguides may support several guided modes, which were demonstrated to strongly affect nonlinear wave mixing in the classical regime [3]. Here we show that using higher order modes for SPDC has a significant influence on the generated two-photon states and gives additional means to control them. In particular, we employ the symmetry of the modes to engineer effectively nonlocal photon pair generation by SPDC.
Spontaneous parametric down-conversion in quantum optics is an invaluable resource for the realization of high-dimensional qudits with spatial modes of light. One of the main open challenges is how to directly generate a desirable qudit state in the SPDC process. This problem can be addressed through advanced computational learning methods; however, due to difficulties in modeling the SPDC process by a fully differentiable algorithm that takes into account all interaction effects, progress has been limited. Here, we overcome these limitations and introduce a physically-constrained and differentiable model, validated against experimental results for shaped pump beams and structured crystals, capable of learning every interaction parameter in the process. We avoid any restrictions induced by the stochastic nature of our physical model and integrate the dynamic equations governing the evolution under the SPDC Hamiltonian. We solve the inverse problem of designing a nonlinear quantum optical system that achieves the desired quantum state of down-converted photon pairs. The desired states are defined using either the second-order correlations between different spatial modes or by specifying the required density matrix. By learning nonlinear volume holograms as well as different pump shapes, we successfully show how to generate maximally entangled states. Furthermore, we simulate all-optical coherent control over the generated quantum state by actively changing the profile of the pump beam. Our work can be useful for applications such as novel designs of high-dimensional quantum key distribution and quantum information processing protocols. In addition, our method can be readily applied for controlling other degrees of freedom of light in the SPDC process, such as the spectral and temporal properties, and may even be used in condensed-matter systems having a similar interaction Hamiltonian.
Spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) in quantum optics is an invaluable resource for the realization of high-dimensional qudits with spatial modes of light. One of the main open challenges is how to directly generate a desirable qudit state in the SPDC process. This problem can be addressed through advanced computational learning methods; however, due to difficulties in modeling the SPDC process by a fully differentiable algorithm, progress has been limited. Here, we overcome these limitations and introduce a physically constrained and differentiable model, validated against experimental results for shaped pump beams and structured crystals, capable of learning the relevant interaction parameters in the process. We avoid any restrictions induced by the stochastic nature of our physical model and integrate the dynamic equations governing the evolution under the SPDC Hamiltonian. We solve the inverse problem of designing a nonlinear quantum optical system that achieves the desired quantum state of downconverted photon pairs. The desired states are defined using either the second-order correlations between different spatial modes or by specifying the required density matrix. By learning nonlinear photonic crystal structures as well as different pump shapes, we successfully show how to generate maximally entangled states. Furthermore, we simulate all-optical coherent control over the generated quantum state by actively changing the profile of the pump beam. Our work can be useful for applications such as novel designs of high-dimensional quantum key distribution and quantum information processing protocols. In addition, our method can be readily applied for controlling other degrees of freedom of light in the SPDC process, such as spectral and temporal properties, and may even be used in condensed-matter systems having a similar interaction Hamiltonian.
We suggest that closed-loop quadratic nonlinear waveguide arrays can be used as a compact interferometrically stable integrated source of discrete orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) entangled biphoton state. We describe analytically and numerically the process of biphoton generation through spontaneous parametric down-conversion in triangular waveguide arrays, and reveal that the generated biphoton quantum states can be precisely controlled by changing the pump phase and wavelength, including the case of photon-pair generation with pure OAM.