Generation, Control and Storage of Broadband Transverse-Mode-Entangled Photons

光子是光的基本粒子，它们可以相互“纠缠”在一起，以至于对其中一个粒子的测量会瞬间改变另一个粒子的状态。纠缠光子可以用来增强我们安全通信的能力，以及对敏感的生物材料成像等应用。虽然产生在偏振、频率和时间上纠缠的光子的技术已经很成熟，但在产生形状或空间模式纠缠的光子方面还有很多需要探索的地方。此外，建立一个高效的存储器，允许我们按需存储和检索纠缠光子，将使通信和传感应用程序更加高效。研究小组将研究光纤作为空间模纠缠光子的来源，以及使用热原子气体作为此类光子的存储介质。研究生将接受最先进的量子光学实验和理论培训，小组成员将积极支持提高少数群体在科学中的代表性的努力，并为本科生创建新的动手实验室模块。该研究小组将开发基于光纤和原子系综的方法，以加强对宽带光子量子源中量子关联的控制，重点是提高基于四波混频的系统中的纠缠维度、量子存储操作和可扩展性。将探索一种用于混合纠缠、多模干涉和高度多模纠缠的光纤平台。展宽机制在决定宽带量子态的存储效率和寿命方面的基本作用将通过原子系综平台从理论和实验两个方面进行探索，并将开发出延长存储寿命、实现横模存储和检索以及通过拉曼介导的自发四波混频产生光子对的方法。光纤中横模纠缠的发展将为量子处理提供新的资源，它将在一个自然适合与其他光纤耦合进行长距离传输的平台上为增强型量子协议提供高维空间。研究量子存储器在这类光源的宽带范围内的工作，以及探索新的基于光纤的光源，将为提高效率和可扩展性提供工具。这些努力将有助于推动量子信息科学的整个领域朝着改善计算、通信和感知的广泛影响的目标前进。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Photons, the fundamental particles of light, can be “entangled” with each other such that the measurement of one instantaneously changes the state of the other. Entangled photons can be used to enhance our ability to communicate securely and to image sensitive biological materials, amongst other applications. While techniques to generate photons entangled in polarization, frequency, and time are well-developed, there is much to explore in the generation of photons entangled in their shape, or spatial mode. In addition, building an efficient memory that allows us to store and retrieve entangled photons on demand would allow communication and sensing applications to be much more efficient. The research team will investigate optical fiber as a source of spatial-mode-entangled photons and the use of hot atomic gases as storage media for such photons. Graduate students will be trained in state-of-the-art quantum optics experiment and theory, and group members will actively support efforts to enhance minority representation in the sciences and create new hands-on laboratory modules for instruction of undergraduate students. The research team will develop methods based on optical fibers and atomic ensembles to enhance control over quantum correlations in broadband photonic quantum sources, with a focus on enhancing entanglement dimensionality, quantum memory operation, and scalability in four-wave-mixing-based systems. An optical fiber platform will be explored for hybrid entanglement, multimode interference, and highly multimode entanglement. The fundamental role of broadening mechanisms in determining memory efficiency and lifetime for broadband quantum states will be explored both theoretically and experimentally through an atomic ensemble platform, and methods will be developed to extend the memory lifetime, enable transverse mode storage and retrieval, and generate photon pairs via Raman-mediated spontaneous four-wave mixing. The development of transverse-mode entanglement in optical fiber will provide new resources for quantum processing by enabling a high-dimensional space for enhanced quantum protocols in a platform naturally suited for coupling to other fibers for long-distance transmission. Investigations of quantum memory operation in the broadband regime of such sources, and explorations of new fiber-based sources, will provide tools for enhanced efficiency and scalability. These efforts will help advance the overall field of quantum information science towards the broadly impactful goals of improved computation, communication, and sensing.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.