We present an overview of recently developed ideas in ultrafast nonlinear optics, and describe three applications where these ideas have had an impact. A closer look at three wave mixing of broadband electromagnetic fields in birefringent nonlinear crystals shows that not only phase matching, but also group velocity matching is important for understanding the process of up- and down-conversion with ultrashort laser pulses. In fact the higher-order dispersion of nonlinear crystalline materials provides an underused degree of freedom that allows tailoring the interaction so that it is suitable for a number of different applications. We analyse the processes of parametric downconversion for the production of pure single photon states, and upconversion for ultrashort pulse characterization and for quantum state and process tomography in molecules.We present an overview of recently developed ideas in ultrafast nonlinear optics, and describe three applications where these ideas have had an impact. A closer look at three wave mixing of broadband electromagnetic fields in birefringent nonlinear crystals shows that not only phase matching, but also group velocity matching is important for understanding the process of up- and down-conversion with ultrashort laser pulses. In fact the higher-order dispersion of nonlinear crystalline materials provides an underused degree of freedom that allows tailoring the interaction so that it is suitable for a number of different applications. We analyse the processes of parametric downconversion for the production of pure single photon states, and upconversion for ultrashort pulse characterization and for quantum state and process tomography in molecules.

Journal of Modern OpticsSep 10, 20074 citations

Optical parametric interaction of ultra-short wave packets

G A Bukauskas, K. Burneika, V Kabelka +2 more

IEEE Journal of Quantum ElectronicsSep 1, 19740 citations

Demonstration of a Quantum Noise Limited Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifier

Nikita S. Klimovich, Peter K. Day, S. Shu +3 more

Recent progress in quantum computing and the development of novel detector technologies for astrophysics is driving the need for high-gain, broadband, and quantum-limited amplifiers. We present a purely traveling-wave parametric amplifier (TWPA) using an inverted NbTiN microstrip and amorphous Silicon dielectric. Through dispersion engineering, we are able to obtain $50~Ω$ impedance matching and suppress undesired parametric processes while phase matching the three-wave-mixing amplification across a large range of frequencies. The result is a broadband amplifier operating with 20 dB gain and quantum-limited noise performance at 20 mK. At the single frequency where the amplifier is phase sensitive, we further demonstrate 8 dB of vacuum noise squeezing.Recent progress in quantum computing and the development of novel detector technologies for astrophysics is driving the need for high-gain, broadband, and quantum-limited amplifiers. We present a purely traveling-wave parametric amplifier (TWPA) using an inverted NbTiN microstrip and amorphous Silicon dielectric. Through dispersion engineering, we are able to obtain $50~Ω$ impedance matching and suppress undesired parametric processes while phase matching the three-wave-mixing amplification across a large range of frequencies. The result is a broadband amplifier operating with 20 dB gain and quantum-limited noise performance at 20 mK. At the single frequency where the amplifier is phase sensitive, we further demonstrate 8 dB of vacuum noise squeezing.

arXiv:2306.11028Jun 19, 20238 citations

Ultrafast and Cooperative Light-Matter Coupling

Junichiro Kono

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 4, 20200 citations

Coherent Picosecond Interactions

A. Laubereau, W. Kaiser

Topics in current physicsJan 1, 19804 citations

Broadband High-Level Squeezed Light using Waveguide Optical Parametric Amplifiers with External Dispersion Compensation

Takumi Suzuki, Shotaro Oki, Kazuki Hirota +8 more

We demonstrate broadband phase-sensitive amplification (PSA) measurement of squeezed light generated by a waveguide optical parametric amplifier (OPA) with external dispersion compensation. In broadband systems, group velocity dispersion (GVD) induces a frequency-dependent rotation of the squeezing axis, which limits the observable bandwidth in PSA measurements. To overcome this limitation, we introduce external dispersion compensation between two OPAs and suppress the quadrature rotation over a wide frequency range. As a result, we observe a maximum squeezing of 5.9 dB near the carrier frequency and more than 5 dB of squeezing up to a frequency offset of 4.5 THz from the carrier. Furthermore, squeezing below the shot-noise level is confirmed up to a frequency offset of 6 THz from the carrier, corresponding to the accessible phase-matching bandwidth of the waveguide OPA. Our results establish a practical method for broadband characterization of squeezed light and provide a key step toward ultrafast continuous-variable quantum information processing.We demonstrate broadband phase-sensitive amplification (PSA) measurement of squeezed light generated by a waveguide optical parametric amplifier (OPA) with external dispersion compensation. In broadband systems, group velocity dispersion (GVD) induces a frequency-dependent rotation of the squeezing axis, which limits the observable bandwidth in PSA measurements. To overcome this limitation, we introduce external dispersion compensation between two OPAs and suppress the quadrature rotation over a wide frequency range. As a result, we observe a maximum squeezing of 5.9 dB near the carrier frequency and more than 5 dB of squeezing up to a frequency offset of 4.5 THz from the carrier. Furthermore, squeezing below the shot-noise level is confirmed up to a frequency offset of 6 THz from the carrier, corresponding to the accessible phase-matching bandwidth of the waveguide OPA. Our results establish a practical method for broadband characterization of squeezed light and provide a key step toward ultrafast continuous-variable quantum information processing.

quant-pharXiv:2606.17422Optics ExpressJun 17, 20260 citations

50~Ω

impedance matching and suppress undesired parametric processes while phase matching the three-wave-mixing amplification across a large range of frequencies. The result is a broadband amplifier operating with 20 dB gain and quantum-limited noise performance at 20 mK. At the single frequency where the amplifier is phase sensitive, we further demonstrate 8 dB of vacuum noise squeezing.