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Laser Physics

The Deterministic Generation of Photons

HERBERT WALTHER

Published Oct 1, 2005• 0 citations
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Abstract

Applications in quantum information and quantum cryptography require radiation sources capable of producing photons in a deterministic way. This paper reviews experiments using cavity quantum electrodynamics directed towards this aim and performed in our laboratory. Two methods will be described. One uses the one-atom maser, and the other, trapped ions in an optical cavity. In order to generate photons on demand, the one-atom maser operates under the condition of the so-called trapping states. In this situation the field of the micromaser stabilizes to photon number states. Thus, the quantum states of the radiation field become directly visible. Hence, the one-atom maser is the only experiment to show a spectrum of photon quantum states. In the second experiment, the strong localization and position control achievable in an ion trap is combined with an optical cavity in a cavity quantum electrodynamic experiment leading to a big step forward towards a deterministic photon source in the visible spectral region.

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Applications in quantum information and quantum cryptography require radiation sources capable of producing photons in a deterministic way. This paper reviews experiments using cavity quantum electrodynamics directed towards this aim and performed in our laboratory. Two methods will be described. One uses the one-atom maser, and the other, trapped ions in an optical cavity. In order to generate photons on demand, the one-atom maser operates under the condition of the so-called trapping states. In this situation the field of the micromaser stabilizes to photon number states. Thus, the quantum states of the radiation field become directly visible. Hence, the one-atom maser is the only experiment to show a spectrum of photon quantum states. In the second experiment, the strong localization and position control achievable in an ion trap is combined with an optical cavity in a cavity quantum electrodynamic experiment leading to a big step forward towards a deterministic photon source in the visible spectral region.
A wide range of applications in quantum information and quantum cryptography requires radiation sources capable of producing a fixed number of photons. This paper reviews the work performed in our laboratory to produce these fields on demand. Two different methods are discussed. The first is based on the one-atom maser or micromaser operating under the conditions of the so-called trapping states. In this situation, the micromaser field stabilizes to a photon number state. Recently, we also succeeded in determining the Wigner function of a single-photon state. The second device, recently realized in our laboratory, uses a single trapped ion in an optical cavity.
The widely discussed applications in quantum information and quantum cryptography require radiation sources capable of producing a fixed number of photons. This paper reviews the work performed in our laboratory to produce these fields on demand. Two different methods are discussed. The first is based on the one-atom maser or micromaser operating under the conditions of the so-called trapping states. In this situation the micromaser stabilises to a photon number state. Recently, we also succeeded in determining the Wigner function of a single-photon state. The second device, recently realized in our laboratory, uses a single trapped ion in an optical cavity.
Abstract The widely discussed applications in quantum information and quantum cryptography require radiation sources capable of producing a fixed number of photons. This paper reviews the work performed in our laboratory using the one‐atom maser or micromaser to produce these fields on demand. In order to achieve this goal the maser is operating under the condition of the so‐called trapping states. In this situation the field of the micromaser stabilises to a photon number state. In the second part of the paper a single photon source on the basis of a trapped ion will be described. The strong localization and position control available when an ion trap is combined with an optical cavity is a big step forward in producing a deterministic atom‐field coupling necessary for quantum information processing.
The widely discussed applications in quantum information and quantum cryptography require radiation sources capable of producing a fixed number of photons. This paper reviews the work performed in our laboratory to produce these fields on demand. Two different methods are discussed. The first is based on the one-atom maser or micromaser operating under the conditions of the so-called trapping states. In this situation the micromaser stabilises to a photon number state. Recently, we also succeeded in determining the Wigner function of a single-photon state. The second device, recently realised in our laboratory, uses a single trapped ion in an optical cavity. 1
Abstract The widely discussed applications in quantum information and quantum cryptography require radiation sources capable of producing a fixed number of photons. This paper reviews the work performed in our laboratory to produce these fields on demand. Two different methods are discussed. The first is based on the one‐atom maser or the micromaser operating under the conditions of the so‐called trapping states. In this situation the micromaser stabilises to a photon number state. The second device uses a single ion in an optical cavity. The latter setup was recently realised in our laboratory.