Alexander Huck

Controlling the coupling of a single nitrogen vacancy center to a Silver nanowire

We report on the controlled coupling of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center to a surface plasmon mode propagating along a chemically grown silver nanowire (NW). We locate and optically characterize a single NV center in a uniform dielectric environment before we controllably position this emitter in the close proximity of the NW. We are thus able to control the coupling of this particular emitter to the NW and directly compare the photon emission properties before and after the coupling. The excitation of single plasmonic modes is witnessed and a total rate enhancement by a factor of up to 4.6 is demonstrated.

Demonstration of quadrature squeezed surface-plasmons in a gold waveguide

The first experiment demonstrating the quantum optical properties of SPPs was the preservation of entanglement under plasmon assisted transmission through sub-wavelength holes in a conductor [1,2].

Efficient coupling of a single diamond color center to propagating plasmonic gap modes.

We report on coupling of a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in a nanodiamond to the propagating gap mode of two parallel placed chemically grown silver nanowires. The coupled NV-center nanowire system is made by manipulating nanodiamonds and nanowires with the tip of an atomic force microscope cantilever. An efficient coupling of an NV-center to an easily accessible gap plasmon mode is demonstrated and we measure an enhancement of the spontaneous emission decay rate by a factor of 8.3.

Generation and Controlled Routing of Single Plasmons on a Chip

We demonstrate the excitation of single surface plasmon polaritons on a silver nanowire using a nitrogen vacancy center and the subsequent controlled coupling to a second silver nanowire. The coupling efficiency and thus the splitting ratio between the nanowires is controlled by adjusting the gap size between the wires with an atomic force microscope. By numerical methods, we estimate the splitting ratios for different gap sizes, and the results support the values obtained in the experiment.

Observation of spatial quantum correlations induced by multiple scattering of nonclassical light.

We present the experimental realization of spatial quantum correlations of photons that are induced by multiple scattering of squeezed light. The quantum correlation relates photons propagating along two different light paths through the random medium and is infinite in range. Both positive and negative spatial quantum correlations are observed when varying the quantum state incident to the multiple scattering medium, and the strength of the correlations is controlled by the number of photons. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with recent theoretical proposals by implementing the full quantum model of multiple scattering.

Coupling of a single quantum emitter to end-to-end aligned silver nanowires

We report on the observation of coupling a single nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in a nanodiamond crystal to a propagating plasmonic mode of silver nanowires. The nanocrystal is placed either near the apex of a single silver nanowire or in the gap between two end-to-end aligned silver nanowires. We observe an enhancement of the NV-centers’ decay rate in both cases as a result of the coupling to the plasmons. The devices are nano-assembled with a scanning probe technique. Through simulations, we show that end-to-end aligned silver nanowires can be used as a controllable splitter for emission from a dipole emitter.

Coupling single emitters to quantum plasmonic circuits

Abstract In recent years, the controlled coupling of single-photon emitters to propagating surface plasmons has been intensely studied, which is fueled by the prospect of a giant photonic nonlinearity on a nanoscaled platform. In this article, we will review the recent progress on coupling single emitters to nanowires towards the construction of a new platform for strong light-matter interaction. The control over such a platform might open new doors for quantum information processing and quantum sensing at the nanoscale and for the study of fundamental physics in the ultrastrong coupling regime.

Quantum optical coherence can survive photon losses using a continuous-variable quantum erasure-correcting code

The effect of loss on quantum states is one of the major hurdles in quantum communications. A quantum error-correcting code that overcomes erasure due to photon loss is experimentally demonstrated. The scheme uses linear optics and protects a four-mode entangled mesoscopic state of light.

Propagation of plasmons in designed single crystalline silver nanostructures

We demonstrate propagation of plasmons in single crystalline silver nanostructures fabricated using a combination of a bottom-up and a top-down approach. Silver nanoplates of thickness around 65 nm and a surface area of about 100 μm(2) are made using a wet chemical method. Silver nanotips and nanowires are then sculptured by focused ion beam milling. The plasmons are excited by using the fluorescence from the redeposited silver clusters during the milling process. Propagation of plasmons in the nanowires is observed in the visible spectral region. We also observe a cavity effect by measuring the emission spectrum from the distal wire end.

Quantum enhanced feedback cooling of a mechanical oscillator using nonclassical light

Laser cooling is a fundamental technique used in primary atomic frequency standards, quantum computers, quantum condensed matter physics and tests of fundamental physics, among other areas. It has been known since the early 1990s that laser cooling can, in principle, be improved by using squeezed light as an electromagnetic reservoir; while quantum feedback control using a squeezed light probe is also predicted to allow improved cooling. Here we show the implementation of quantum feedback control of a micro-mechanical oscillator using squeezed probe light. This allows quantum-enhanced feedback cooling with a measurement rate greater than it is possible with classical light, and a consequent reduction in the final oscillator temperature. Our results have significance for future applications in areas ranging from quantum information networks, to quantum-enhanced force and displacement measurements and fundamental tests of macroscopic quantum mechanics.