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URSI International Symposium on Electromagnetic Theory

Photon-Pair Annihilation at Time Interfaces: Consequent Quantum Optical Effects

M. S. Mirmoosa

Published Jan 1, 2025• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This presentation offers a fresh perspective on the quantum theory of electromagnetic time interfaces.Notably, by critically examining established assumptions, we uncover that, in addition to photon-pair production, photon-pair annihilation is also a salient feature of time interfaces.Our analysis reveals that this characteristic enables the generation of quantum vacuum states and facilitates quantum state discrimination.Thus, these findings not only expand our understanding of time interfaces, but also may open new avenues for applications in quantum optics.

DOI
10.46620/ursiemts25/jvzr4653

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This presentation offers a fresh perspective on the quantum theory of electromagnetic time interfaces.Notably, by critically examining established assumptions, we uncover that, in addition to photon-pair production, photon-pair annihilation is also a salient feature of time interfaces.Our analysis reveals that this characteristic enables the generation of quantum vacuum states and facilitates quantum state discrimination.Thus, these findings not only expand our understanding of time interfaces, but also may open new avenues for applications in quantum optics.
In this presentation, we shed light on electromagnetic time interfaces using the principles of quantum optics. We begin by explaining the transformation of bosonic mode operators in response to a temporal discontinuity in the macroscopic parameters. Accordingly, our discussion extends to the general analysis of photon statistics and the degree of second-order coherence of the generated forward and backward modes. Focusing on input number states, we meticulously detail the quantum states produced after the time interface, elucidating the associated probability distributions. By virtue of this study, we specifically highlight the controllable nature of photon statistics of the output forward mode for particular input states. We show that this capability, in general, is not present for the backward mode generated through the time interface. Also, we reveal that photon-pair generation is a fundamental inherent feature of the time interface. By unveiling all these insights, we aim to pave the way for exploring photonic time crystals within the domain of quantum optics.
Modulating macroscopic parameters of materials in time offers innovative avenues for manipulating electromagnetic waves. Due to such enticing prospects, the general research subject of time-varying systems is expanding today in different branches of electromagnetism and optics. However, compared with the research efforts and progresses that have taken place in the realm of classical electrodynamics, the quantum aspects of this emerging subject have been less explored. Here, through the lens of quantum optics, we study the scattering of electromagnetic fields from an isotropic and nondispersive material with a suddenly changing refractive index, creating a time interface. We revisit the transformation of the bosonic mode operators and corresponding quantum states due to this interface, governed by the two-mode squeeze operator. Building on this foundation, at the core of the investigation, our analysis focuses on the quantum state engineering and photon statistics of the scattered light. Notably, such an analysis reveals and connects various quantum optical phenomena and opportunities arising from the time interface, including photon-pair production and destruction, photon bunching and antibunching, vacuum generation, quantum state discrimination, and quantum state freezing. To bridge theory and experiment, we propose a possible circuit quantum electrodynamics approach for validating our theoretical predictions. We hope that our work inspires experimental investigations of such quantum state engineering and photon statistics phenomena, as well as further quantum optical explorations of electromagnetic field interaction with photonic time crystals or with dispersive time-varying materials.
The generation of correlated photon pairs is a key to the production of entangled quantum states, which have a variety of applications within the area of quantum information. In spontaneous parametric down-conversion---the primary method of generating correlated photon pairs---the associated photon annihilation and creation events are generally thought of as being colocated: The correlated pair of photons is localized with regards to the pump photon and its positional origin. A detailed quantum electrodynamical analysis highlights a mechanism exhibiting the possibility of a delocalized origin for paired output photons: The spatial extent of the region from which the pair is generated can be much larger than previously thought. The theory of both localized and nonlocalized degenerate down-conversion is presented, followed by a quantitative analysis using discrete-volume computational methods. The results may have significant implications for quantum information and imaging applications, and the design of nonlinear optical metamaterials.
Microfabrication of atomic and optical components plays an increasingly important role in the development of quantum technologies and their application in fields such as sensing, timing and spectroscopy. Driven forward by advances in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), new techniques are now used for critical atomic and optical components at the heart of quantum technologies, including diffractive optics, atomic vapour cells and miniaturised ion traps. A range of other miniaturised technologies, such as hollow-core waveguides and integrated photonics, also add to the capabilities of emerging quantum devices. These components offer the potential to scale atomic quantum devices down to chip-scale packages, increasing the application range and facilitating their in-field deployment. Additionally, miniaturisation may also unlock physical regimes, such as thin media effects and atom–interface interactions, opening avenues for new research which cannot be accessed using larger conventional components.