Giovanni Di Giuseppe

Anderson localization in optical waveguide arrays with off-diagonal coupling disorder

We observe the transition from extended to Anderson-localized states in silica waveguide arrays exhibiting off-diagonal coupling disorder.

Effective fiber-coupling of entangled photons for quantum communication

We report on theoretical and experimental demonstration of high-efficiency coupling of two-photon entangled states produced in the nonlinear process of spontaneous parametric down conversion into a single-mode fiber. We determine constraints for the optimal coupling parameters. This result is crucial for practical implementation of quantum key distribution protocols with entangled states.

Counterpropagating entangled photons from a waveguide with periodic nonlinearity

Quantum Imaging Laboratory, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering,Boston University, 8 Saint Mary’s Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215(Dated: February 1, 2008)The conditions required for spontaneous parametric down-conversion in a waveguide with periodicnonlinearity in the presence of an unguided pump field are established. Control of the periodic non-linearity and the physical properties of the waveguide permits the quasi-phase matching equationsthat describe counter-propagating guided signal and idler beams to be satisfied. We compare thetuning curves and spectral properties of such counter-propagating beams to those for co-propagatingbeams under typical experimental conditions. We find that the counter-propagating beams exhibitnarrow bandwidth permitting the generation of quantum states that possess discrete-frequency en-tanglement. Such states may be useful for experiments in quantum optics and technologies thatbenefit from frequency entanglement.

Experimental test of two-way quantum key distribution in the presence of controlled noise.

We describe the experimental test of a quantum key distribution performed with a two-way protocol without using entanglement. An individual incoherent eavesdropping is simulated and induces a variable amount of noise on the communication channel. This allows a direct verification of the agreement between theory and practice.

Direct observation of photon pairs at a single output port of a beam-splitter interferometer

Quantum theory predicts that two indistinguishable photons incident on a beam-splitter interferometer stick together as they exit the device (the pair emerges randomly from one port or the other). We use a special photon-number-resolving energy detector for a direct loophole-free observation of this quantum-interference phenomenon. Simultaneous measurements from two such detectors, one at each beam-splitter output port, confirm the absence of cross-coincidences.

Entangled-Photon Generation from Parametric Down-Conversion in Media with Inhomogeneous Nonlinearity

We develop and experimentally verify a theory of type II spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in media with inhomogeneous distributions of second-order nonlinearity. As a special case, we explore interference effects from SPDC generated in a cascade of two bulk crystals separated by an air gap. The polarization quantum-interference pattern is found to vary strongly with the spacing between the two crystals. This is found to be a cooperative effect due to two mechanisms: the chromatic dispersion of the medium separating the crystals and spatiotemporal effects that arise from the inclusion of transverse wave vectors. These effects provide two concomitant avenues for controlling the quantum state generated in SPDC. We expect these results to be of interest for the development of quantum technologies and the generation of SPDC in periodically varying nonlinear materials.

Probing deformed commutators with macroscopic harmonic oscillators.

A minimal observable length is a common feature of theories that aim to merge quantum physics and gravity. Quantum mechanically, this concept is associated with a nonzero minimal uncertainty in position measurements, which is encoded in deformed commutation relations. In spite of increasing theoretical interest, the subject suffers from the complete lack of dedicated experiments and bounds to the deformation parameters have just been extrapolated from indirect measurements. As recently proposed, low-energy mechanical oscillators could allow to reveal the effect of a modified commutator. Here we analyze the free evolution of high-quality factor micro- and nano-oscillators, spanning a wide range of masses around the Planck mass mP (≈22 μg). The direct check against a model of deformed dynamics substantially lowers the previous limits on the parameters quantifying the commutator deformation.

Non-collinear and non-degenerate polarization-entangled photon generation via concurrent type-I parametric downconversion in PPLN.

A periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal has been used as an efficient source of non-collinearly generated polarization-entangled photon pairs at 810 and 1550 nm. The PPLN crystal was endowed with a specially designed poling pattern and the entangled photons were generated via the nonlinear optical process of spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC). A novel design based on overlapping two concurrent type-I quasi-phase-matching structures in a single PPLN crystals produced correlated pairs of alternatively polarized photons in largely separated spectral regions. The phase of the resulting two-photon state is directly linked to parameters of the nonlinear grating. Continuous tunability of the generated Bell state, from Phi(+) to Phi(-), has been demonstrated by translating a slightly wedged crystal perpendicular to the pump beam.

Photonic Circuits for Generating Modal, Spectral, and Polarization Entanglement

We consider the design of photonic circuits that make use of Ti:LiNbO3 diffused channel waveguides to generate photons with various combinations of modal, spectral, and polarization entanglement. Down-converted photon pairs are generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in a two-mode waveguide (TMW). We study a class of photonic circuits comprising: 1) a nonlinear periodically poled TMW structure; 2) a set of single-mode waveguide (SMW)- and TMW-based couplers arranged in such a way that they suitably separate the three photons comprising the SPDC process; and, for some applications, 3) a holographic Bragg grating that acts as a dichroic reflector. The first circuit produces two frequency-degenerate down-converted photons, each with even spatial parity, in two separate SMWs. Changing the parameters of the elements allows this same circuit to produce two nondegenerate down-converted photons that are entangled in frequency or simultaneously entangled in frequency and polarization. The second photonic circuit is designed to produce modal entanglement by distinguishing the photons on the basis of their frequencies. A modified version of this circuit can be used to generate photons that are doubly entangled in mode number and polarization. The third photonic circuit is designed to manage dispersion by converting modal, spectral, and polarization entanglement into path entanglement.

Multiparameter entanglement in quantum interferometry

The role of multiparameter entanglement in quantum interference from collinear Type-II spontaneous parametric down-conversion is explored using a variety of aperture shapes and sizes, in regimes of both ultrafast and continuous-wave pumping. We have developed and experimentally verified a theory of down-conversion which considers a quantum state that can be concurrently entangled in frequency, wavevector, and polarization. In particular, we demonstrate deviations from the familiar triangular interference dip, such as asymmetry and peaking. These findings improve our capacity to control the quantum state produced by spontaneous parametric down-conversion, and should prove useful to those pursuing the many proposed applications of downconverted light.