Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: The quantum state of light plays a crucial role in a wide range of fields, from quantum information science to precision measurements. Whereas complex quantum states can be created for electrons in solid-state materials through mere cooling, optical manipulation and control builds on nonthermodynamic methods. Using an optical dye microcavity, we show that photon wave packets can be split through thermalization within a potential with two minima subject to tunnel coupling. At room temperature, photons condense into a quantum-coherent bifurcated ground state. Fringe signals upon recombination show the relative coherence between the two wells, demonstrating a working interferometer with the nonunitary thermodynamic beam splitter. Our energetically driven optical-state preparation method provides a route for exploring correlated and entangled optical many-body states.
Source: Science
Authors: Christian Kurtscheid, David Dung, Erik Busley, Frank Vewinger, Achim Rosch, Martin Weitz
Institutions: University of Bonn, University of Cologne
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1313477796, G1736960248, G2797134947, TRR 185: OSCAR Kontrolle atomarer und photonischer Quantenmaterie durch maßgeschneiderte Kopplung an Reservoire, G3356704239, G581057490, G6280136686, TRR 183: Verschränkte Materiezustände, G7613874394, EXC 2004: Materie und Licht für Quanteninformation (ML4Q)
OpenAlex ID: W2989219102