coherent quantum dynamics of systems with coupling induced creation pathways

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1809.06872
• Publication Date: 2019-08-12
• Authors: Austin Graf; Usman A. Javid; Qiang Lin; Steven Rogers
• Keywords: Quantum Physics; 0103 physical sciences; FOS: Physical sciences; Quantum Physics (quant-ph); 01 natural sciences; Physics - Optics; Optics (physics.optics)

AbstractMany technologies emerging from quantum information science heavily rely upon the generation and manipulation of entangled quantum states. Here, we propose and demonstrate a new class of quantum interference phenomena that arise when states are created in and coherently converted between the propagating modes of an optical microcavity. The modal coupling introduces several new creation pathways to a nonlinear optical process within the device, which quantum mechanically interfere to drive the system between states in the time domain. The coherent conversion entangles the generated biphotons between propagation pathways, leading to cyclically evolving path-entanglement and the manifestation of coherent oscillations in second-order temporal correlations. Furthermore, the rich device physics is harnessed to tune properties of the quantum states. In particular, we show that the strength of interference between pathways can be coherently controlled, allowing for manipulation of the degree of entanglement, which can even be entirely quenched. The states can likewise be made to flip-flop between exhibiting initially correlated or uncorrelated behavior. The phenomena presented here open a route to creating higher dimensional entanglement and exotic multi-photon states.