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Qian K, Wang K, Chen L, Hou Z, Krenn M, Zhu S, Ma XS. Multiphoton non-local quantum interference controlled by an undetected photon. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1480. [PMID: 36932077 PMCID: PMC10023773 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37228-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The interference of quanta lies at the heart of quantum physics. The multipartite generalization of single-quanta interference creates entanglement, the coherent superposition of states shared by several quanta. Entanglement allows non-local correlations between many quanta and hence is a key resource for quantum information technology. Entanglement is typically considered to be essential for creating non-local quantum interference. Here, we show that this is not the case and demonstrate multiphoton non-local quantum interference that does not require entanglement of any intrinsic properties of the photons. We harness the superposition of the physical origin of a four-photon product state, which leads to constructive and destructive interference with the photons' mere existence. With the intrinsic indistinguishability in the generation process of photons, we realize four-photon frustrated quantum interference. This allows us to observe the following noteworthy difference to quantum entanglement: We control the non-local multipartite quantum interference with a photon that we never detect, which does not require quantum entanglement. These non-local properties pave the way for the studies of foundations of quantum physics and potential applications in quantum technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyi Qian
- National Laboratory of Solid-state Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Kai Wang
- National Laboratory of Solid-state Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China.
| | - Leizhen Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid-state Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Zhaohua Hou
- National Laboratory of Solid-state Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Mario Krenn
- Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light (MPL), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Shining Zhu
- National Laboratory of Solid-state Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Xiao-Song Ma
- National Laboratory of Solid-state Microstructures, School of Physics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China. .,Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China. .,Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei, 230088, China.
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Toa ZSD, Chekhova MV, Krivitsky LA, Paterova AV. Crystal superlattices for versatile and sensitive quantum spectroscopy. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:7265-7276. [PMID: 36859862 DOI: 10.1364/oe.477019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nonlinear interferometers with quantum correlated photons have been demonstrated to improve optical characterization and metrology. These interferometers can be used in gas spectroscopy, which is of particular interest for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, breath analysis and industrial applications. Here, we show that gas spectroscopy can be further enhanced via the deployment of crystal superlattices. This is a cascaded arrangement of nonlinear crystals forming interferometers, allowing the sensitivity to scale with the number of nonlinear elements. In particular, the enhanced sensitivity is observed via the maximum intensity of interference fringes that scales with low concentration of infrared absorbers, while for high concentration the sensitivity is better in interferometric visibility measurements. Thus, a superlattice acts as a versatile gas sensor since it can operate by measuring different observables, which are relevant to practical applications. We believe that our approach offers a compelling path towards further enhancements for quantum metrology and imaging using nonlinear interferometers with correlated photons.
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Kaufmann P, Chrzanowski HM, Vanselow A, Ramelow S. Mid-IR spectroscopy with NIR grating spectrometers. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:5926-5936. [PMID: 35209544 DOI: 10.1364/oe.442411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectroscopy is a crucial workhorse for a plethora of analytical applications and is suitable for diverse materials, including gases, polymers or biological tissue. However, this technologically significant wavelength regime between 2.5-10 µm suffers from technical limitations primarily related to the large noise in mid-IR detectors and the complexity and cost of bright, broadband mid-IR light sources. Here, using highly non-degenerate, broadband photon pairs from bright spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in a nonlinear interferometer, we circumvent these limitations and realise spectroscopy in the mid-IR using only a visible (VIS) solid-state laser and an off-the-shelf, commercial near-infrared (NIR) grating spectrometer. With this proof-of-concept implementation, covering a broad range from 3.2 µm to 4.4 µm we demonstrate short integration times down to 1 s and signal-to-noise ratios above 200 at a spectral resolution from 12 cm-1 down to 1.5 cm-1 for longer integration times. Through the analysis of polymer samples and the ambient CO2 in our laboratory, we highlight the potential of this measurement technique for real-world applications.
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Peng Z, Zhou Z, Li T, Jiang M, Li C, Qing T, Yang L, Zhang X. Real-time monitoring of the sucrose hydrolysis process based on two-photon coincidence measurements. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:6590-6600. [PMID: 34745758 PMCID: PMC8548013 DOI: 10.1364/boe.432301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Real-time measurement of the biochemical reaction process has important application scenarios. Due to the chirality of a large number of life-sustaining molecules, many parameters of the reaction kinetics involving these chiral molecules, such as the reaction rate and the reagents concentrations, could be tracked by monitoring the optical activity of the substrate and/or product molecules. However, the optical activity of photosensitive biomolecules does not allow traditional laser-based real-time measurement due to the vulnerability of their biochemical properties under high-intensity light regimes. Here we introduce a real-time tracking technique of the sucrose hydrolysis reaction based on two-photon coincidence measurements. The two-photon source is generated based on a spontaneous parametric down-conversion process. During the reaction, the kinetic parameters are obtained by the real-time measurement of the change of the polarization of the photons when operating at extremely low-light regimes. Compared with single-photon counting measurements, two-photon coincidence measurements have higher signal-to-noise ratios and better robustness, which demonstrates the potential value in monitoring the photosensitive biochemical reaction processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Peng
- ENNOVA Institute of Life Science and Technology, ENN Group, Langfang, Hebei 065001, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Tongju Li
- ENNOVA Institute of Life Science and Technology, ENN Group, Langfang, Hebei 065001, China
| | - Meili Jiang
- ENNOVA Institute of Life Science and Technology, ENN Group, Langfang, Hebei 065001, China
| | - Chenhao Li
- ENNOVA Institute of Life Science and Technology, ENN Group, Langfang, Hebei 065001, China
| | - Tang Qing
- ENNOVA Institute of Life Science and Technology, ENN Group, Langfang, Hebei 065001, China
- College of Physics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China
| | - Liu Yang
- ENNOVA Institute of Life Science and Technology, ENN Group, Langfang, Hebei 065001, China
| | - Xiaochun Zhang
- ENNOVA Institute of Life Science and Technology, ENN Group, Langfang, Hebei 065001, China
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5
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Hojo M, Tanaka K. Broadband infrared light source by simultaneous parametric down-conversion. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17986. [PMID: 34504240 PMCID: PMC8429520 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97531-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous parametric down-conversion is an essential tool for a quantum light source in the infrared region ranging 2-5 µm for the purpose of material identification, chemical analysis, and gas sensing. So far, photon pairs from the process in a nonlinear crystal have low tunability and a narrow spectral range because of the phase-matching condition. Here, we propose a novel type of spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes that overcomes these challenges, where two photon pairs are simultaneously produced in the visible and infrared regions in periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalite. It allows broadband and tunable generation of infrared photon pairs that can be employed as an alternative light source for quantum infrared spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Hojo
- Department of Physics, Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8224, Japan.
| | - Koichiro Tanaka
- Department of Physics, Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8224, Japan.
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Ullah A, Usman M, Qingyu W, Ahmad I, Khosa RY, Maqbool M. Response of structural and optical properties against proton irradiation in AlN:Tm thin films. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.109234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Lindner C, Kunz J, Herr SJ, Wolf S, Kießling J, Kühnemann F. Nonlinear interferometer for Fourier-transform mid-infrared gas spectroscopy using near-infrared detection. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:4035-4047. [PMID: 33770991 DOI: 10.1364/oe.415365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nonlinear interferometers allow for mid-infrared spectroscopy with near-infrared detection using correlated photons. Previous implementations have demonstrated a spectral resolution limited by spectrally selective detection. In our work, we demonstrate mid-infrared transmission spectroscopy in a nonlinear interferometer using single-pixel near-infrared detection and Fourier-transform analysis. A sub-wavenumber spectral resolution allows for rotational-line-resolving spectroscopy of gaseous samples in a spectral bandwidth of over 700 cm-1. We use methane transmission spectra around 3.3 μm wavelength to characterize the spectral resolution, noise limitations and transmission accuracy of our device. The combination of nonlinear interferometry and Fourier-transform analysis paves the way towards performant and efficient mid-infrared spectroscopy with near-infrared detection.
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Paterova AV, Maniam SM, Yang H, Grenci G, Krivitsky LA. Hyperspectral infrared microscopy with visible light. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eabd0460. [PMID: 33127685 PMCID: PMC7608807 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd0460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Hyperspectral microscopy is an imaging technique that provides spectroscopic information with high spatial resolution. When applied in the relevant wavelength region, such as in the infrared (IR), it can reveal a rich spectral fingerprint across different regions of a sample. Challenges associated with low efficiency and high cost of IR light sources and detector arrays have limited its broad adoption. Here, we introduce a new approach to IR hyperspectral microscopy, where the IR spectral map is obtained with off-the-shelf components built for visible light. The method is based on the nonlinear interference of correlated photons generated via parametric down-conversion. In this proof-of-concept we demonstrate the chemical mapping of a patterned sample, where different areas have distinctive IR spectroscopic fingerprints. The method provides a wide field of view, fast readout, and negligible heat delivered to the sample, which opens prospects for its further development for applications in material and biological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Paterova
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Sivakumar M Maniam
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Hongzhi Yang
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Gianluca Grenci
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore
| | - Leonid A Krivitsky
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 138634, Singapore.
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Lindner C, Wolf S, Kiessling J, Kühnemann F. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with visible light. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:4426-4432. [PMID: 32121679 DOI: 10.1364/oe.382351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Nonlinear interferometers allow spectroscopy in the mid-infrared range by detecting correlated visible light, for which non-cooled detectors with higher specific detectivity and lower dark count rates are available. We present a new approach for the registration of spectral information, which combines a nonlinear interferometer using non-degenerate spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) with a Fourier-transform spectroscopy concept. In order to increase the spectral coverage, we use broadband non-collinear SPDC in periodically poled LiNbO3. Without the need for spectrally selective detection, continuous spectra with a spectral bandwidth of more than 100 cm-1 are achieved. We demonstrate transmission spectra of a polypropylene sample measured with 6 cm-1 resolution in the spectral range between 3.2 µm to 3.9 µm.
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Paterova A, Yang H, An C, Kalashnikov D, Krivitsky L. Polarization effects in nonlinear interference of down-converted photons. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:2589-2603. [PMID: 30732294 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.002589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
We study polarization effects in the nonlinear interference of photons generated via frequency nondegenerate spontaneous parametric-down conversion. Signal and idler photons, which are generated in the visible and infrared (IR) range, respectively, are split into different arms of a nonlinear Michelson interferometer, and the interference pattern for signal photons is detected. Due to the effect of induced coherence, the interference pattern for the signal photons depends on the polarization rotation of idler photons, which are introduced by a birefringent sample. Based on this concept, we realize two new methods of measuring sample retardation in the IR range by using well-developed and inexpensive components for visible light. The methods' accuracy reaches specifications that are reported for industrial-grade optical elements. The developed IR polarimetry technique is relevant to material research, optical inspection, and quality control.
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Jin RB, Shiina R, Shimizu R. Quantum manipulation of biphoton spectral distributions in a 2D frequency space toward arbitrary shaping of a biphoton wave packet. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:21153-21158. [PMID: 30119419 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.021153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Arbitrary shaping of optical waveform is fundamental interest from basic science to advanced optical technologies. However, it is still challenging task for shaping a biphoton wave packet. Here we experimentally manipulate the spectrum and phase of a biphoton wave packet in a two-dimensional frequency space. The spectrum is shaped by adjusting the temperature of the crystal, and the phase is controlled by tilting the dispersive glass plate. The manipulating effects are confirmed by measuring the two-photon spectral intensity (TSI) and the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference patterns. The technique in this work paves the way for arbitrary shaping of a multi-photon wave packet in a quantum manner.
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