Generating quantum states of light in nonlinear photonic resonators

Robert W. Boyd

Hiroo Azuma

Abstract In this paper, we investigate how to generate coherent squeezed-like light using a nonlinear photonic crystal. Because the photonic crystal reduces the group velocity of the incident light, if it is composed of a material with a second-order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ ( 2 ) , the interaction between the nonlinear material and the light passing through it strengthens and the quantum state of the emitted light is largely squeezed. Thus, we can generate a coherent squeezed-like light with a resonating cavity in which the nonlinear photonic crystal is placed. This coherent squeezed-like state is defined with the Lie–Trotter product formula and its mathematical expression is different from those of conventional coherent squeezed states. We show that we can obtain this coherent squeezed-like state with a squeezing level 15.9 dB practically by adjusting the physical parameters for our proposed method. Feeding the squeezed light whose average number of photons is given by one or two into a beam splitter and splitting the flow of the squeezed light into a pair of entangled light beams, we estimate their entanglement quantitatively. This paper is a sequel to Azuma (2022 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 55 315106).

Dylan van Eeden, Marc M. Dignam

Entangled multi-mode squeezed states of light have a wide variety of applications in quantum information systems, particularly in the generation of non-Gaussian states of light, which are central to continuous-variable quantum computing. Although theoretical approaches exist to model the nonlinear generation of one- and two-mode entangled states of light in ring resonator systems, these approaches are difficult to implement in modeling more complicated many-cavity systems. In this work, we present an efficient and accurate theoretical approach to modeling the generation and propagation of quantum states of light in lossy coupled-cavity systems containing a two- or three-mode nonlinear resonant structure. Our approach is general and computationally viable even in systems with hundreds of modes. We apply our method to the design and modeling of a multimode photonic crystal coupled-cavity system for the generation of entangled squeezed states of light on-chip. The system consists of a three-mode resonant structure coupled to three coupled-resonator optical waveguides (CROWs) in a square lattice silicon photonic crystal slab. The computational speed of the method allows us to efficiently optimize the system such that the signal and idler light in the two output CROWs remains entangled even after propagating tens of cavities down the CROWs.

Xin Chen

Nonlinear optics underpins quantum photonics by enabling the generation and control of quantum states of light. We present new applications of optical resonators as mode selectors in nonlinear processes. First, we show that cavity-enhanced spontaneous parametric down-conversion can generate spectrally uncorrelated photon pairs with improved decorrelation and wavelength flexibility. Second, we demonstrate that a cavity-assisted sum-frequency generation process realizes a quantum pulse gate with high-resolution temporal-mode selectivity and precise spectral control. Our theoretical framework provides a general methodology for analyzing cavity-enhanced nonlinear processes and highlights the versatility of optical resonators as powerful tools for engineering quantum light.

Edward C. R. Deacon