Work

Nonlinear quantum spectroscopy with parity–time-symmetric integrated circuits

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: We propose a novel quantum nonlinear interferometer design that incorporates a passive parity–time (PT)-symmetric coupler sandwiched between two nonlinear sections where signal–idler photon pairs are generated. The PT symmetry enables efficient coupling of the longer-wavelength idler photons and facilitates the sensing of losses in the second waveguide exposed to analyte under investigation, whose absorption can be inferred by measuring only the signal intensity at a shorter wavelength where efficient detectors are readily available. Remarkably, we identify a new phenomenon of sharp signal intensity fringe shift at critical idler loss values, which is distinct from the previously studied PT symmetry breaking. We discuss how such unconventional properties arising from quantum interference can provide a route to enhancing the sensing of analytes and facilitate broadband spectroscopy applications in integrated photonic platforms.

Source: Photonics Research

DOI: 10.1364/prj.450410

Authors: Pawan Kumar, Sina Saravi, Thomas Pertsch, Frank Setzpfandt, Andrey A. Sukhorukov

Institutions: Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Australian National University

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Mechanics and Non-Hermitian Physics

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Australian Research Council

Awards: G4990560037, Synthetic multi-dimensional integrated photonics, G7031525763