Opportunities and Challenges of Solid-State Quantum Nonlinear Optics
Abhinav Kala, David Sharp, Minho Choi, Arnab Manna, Prathmesh Deshmukh, Vijin Kizhake Veetil, Vinod M. Menon, Matthew A. Pelton, Edo Waks A, Arka Majumdar
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.
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.
Nonlinear interactions between single quantum particles are at the heart of any quantum information system, including analog quantum simulation and fault-tolerant quantum computing. This remains a particularly difficult problem for photonic qubits, as photons do not interact with each other. While engineering light-matter interaction can effectively create photon-photon interaction, the required photon number to observe any nonlinearity is very high, where any quantum mechanical signature disappears. However, with emerging low-dimensional materials, and engineered photonic resonators, the photon number can be potentially 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 architecture with different dimensionalities. We also present new research directions and open problems in this field.
Rydberg atoms have emerged as a versatile platform for quantum optics due to their exaggerated properties, particularly their strong long-range interactions, which enable a new regime of light-matter interaction. By mapping the interactions between Rydberg atoms onto photons, effective photon-photon interactions can be realized at the single-photon level, thereby overcoming the intrinsic weakness of conventional optical nonlinearities. In this review, we first introduce the fundamental physical principles of Rydberg-mediated quantum optics, and then discuss some key developments, including single-photon engineering, photonic quantum gates, contactless nonlinear optics, and quantum entanglement, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and prospects of this rapidly developing field.
Quantum optical nonlinearities have received growing interest for their key role in quantum information science, quantum simulations, and other quantum technologies. Unfortunately, most materials exhibit very weak optical nonlinearities, virtually non-existent at the single photon level. Nano-scale optical resonators can store light for a long period of time in cubic-wavelength scale volume, and thus present a unique opportunity to enhance the light-matter interaction. Additionally, breakthroughs in materials science allow us to engineer inherently strong nonlinear materials. In this talk, I will present our theoretical and experimental efforts in nonlinear nanophotonics, integrated with atomically thin 2D materials, specifically transition metal dichalcogenides and solution-processed quantum dots. By confining both light and matter in the wavelength scale, we aim to reach the nonlinear regime, where single photons start repelling each other. I will also elaborate on the possibility of scaling this platform to multiple single photon quantum nodes with the possibility of creating a correlated quantum fluid of light.
Quantum optical nonlinearities have received growing interest for their key role in quantum information science, quantum simulations, and other quantum technologies. Unfortunately, most materials exhibit very weak optical nonlinearities, virtually non-existent at the single photon level. Nano-scale optical resonators can store light for a long period of time in cubic-wavelength scale volume, and thus present a unique opportunity to enhance the light-matter interaction. Additionally, breakthroughs in materials science allow us to engineer inherently strong nonlinear materials. In this talk, I will present our theoretical and experimental efforts in nonlinear nanophotonics, integrated with atomically thin 2D materials, specifically transition metal dichalcogenides and solution-processed quantum dots. By confining both light and matter in the wavelength scale, we aim to reach the nonlinear regime, where single photons start repelling each other. I will also elaborate on the possibility of scaling this platform to multiple single photon quantum nodes with the possibility of creating a correlated quantum fluid of light.
Abstract Coherent quantum optics, where the phase of a photon is not scrambled as it interacts with an emitter, lies at the heart of many quantum optical effects and emerging technologies. Solid‐state emitters coupled to nanophotonic waveguides are a promising platform for quantum devices, as this element can be integrated into complex photonic chips. Yet, preserving the full coherence properties of the coupled emitter‐waveguide system is challenging because of the complex and dynamic electromagnetic landscape found in the solid state. Here, we review progress toward coherent light‐matter interactions with solid‐state quantum emitters coupled to nanophotonic waveguides. We first lay down the theoretical foundation for coherent and nonlinear light‐matter interactions of a two‐level system in a quasi‐one‐dimensional system, and then benchmark experimental realizations. We discuss higher order nonlinearities that arise as a result of the addition of photons of different frequencies, more complex energy level schemes of the emitters, and the coupling of multiple emitters via a shared photonic mode. Throughout, we highlight protocols for applications and novel effects that are based on these coherent interactions, the steps taken toward their realization, and the challenges that remain to be overcome.
Quantum optics is the branch of physics that investigates the interaction of light with matter at the quantum level, where the discrete nature of photons and quantum states of atoms, molecules, and solid-state systems become dominant. Quantum optics systems provide the experimental and theoretical foundation for understanding nonclassical states of light, quantum coherence, entanglement, and measurement at the quantum limit. Over the past few decades, advances in laser technology, nonlinear optics, and precision measurement have transformed quantum optics from a fundamental discipline into a key enabler of quantum technologies, including quantum communication, quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum metrology. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the physical principles, system architectures, and experimental platforms of quantum optics. Emphasis is placed on light sources, atom–photon interaction systems, detection techniques, and emerging applications, along with current challenges and future research directions.