Optimal demonstration of Autler Townes splitting

The atom-light interaction in a three-level system has shown significant physical phenomena, such as electromagnetically induced transparency and Autler{Townes splitting (ATS), for broad applications in classical and quantum information techniques. Here, we optimally demonstrated the ATS with a quantum state manipulation method. The ATS in the dephasing-dominated diamond NV center system was successfully recovered by coherent microwave control, which cannot be observed with traditional method. The dynamical process of ATS was investigated in detail, revealing a nontrivial quantum interference with geometric phase modulations. Based on the quantum interference, the signal of the optimal ATS is twice as intense as those with traditional observation method.Comment: 10 pages and 9 figure

Bunching Effect and Quantum Statistics of Partially Indistinguishable Photons

The quantum statistics of particles is determined by both the spins and the indistinguishability of quantum states. Here we studied the quantum statistics of partially distinguishable photons by defining the multi-photon indistinguishability. The photon bunching co-efficient was formulated based on the properties of permutation symmetry, and a modified Bose--Einstein statistics was presented with an indistinguishability induced photon bunching effect. Moreover, the statistical transition of the photon state was studied for partially distinguishable photons, and the results shows the that indistinguishability exhibits the same role as that observed in the generation of laser. The results will fill the gap between Bose--Einstein and Poisson statistics for photons, and a formula is presented for the study of multi-photon quantum information processes.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Realization of mutually unbiased bases for a qubit with only one wave plate: Theory and experiment

We consider the problem of implementing mutually unbiased bases (MUB) for a polarization qubit with only one wave plate, the minimum number of wave plates. We show that one wave plate is sufficient to realize two MUB as long as its phase shift (modulo $360^\circ$) ranges between $45^\circ$ and $315^\circ$. {It can realize} three MUB (a complete set of MUB for a qubit) if the phase shift of the wave plate is within $[111.5^\circ, 141.7^\circ]$ or its symmetric range with respect to 180$^\circ$. The systematic error of the realized MUB using a third-wave plate (TWP) with $120^\circ$ phase is calculated to be a half of that using the combination of a quarter-wave plate (QWP) and a half-wave plate (HWP). As experimental applications, TWPs are used in single-qubit and two-qubit quantum state tomography experiments and the results show a systematic error reduction by $50\%$. This technique not only saves one wave plate but also reduces the systematic error, which can be applied to quantum state tomography and other applications involving MUB. The proposed TWP may become a useful instrument in optical experiments, replacing multiple elements like QWP and HWP.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Experimental demonstration of switching entangled photons based on the Rydberg blockade effect

The long-range interaction between Rydberg-excited atoms endows a medium with large optical nonlinearity. Here, we demonstrate an optical switch to operate on a single photon from an entangled photon pair under a Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency configuration. With the presence of the Rydberg blockade effect, we switch on a gate field to make the atomic medium nontransparent thereby absorbing the single photon emitted from another atomic ensemble via the spontaneous four-wave mixing process. In contrast to the case without a gate field, more than 50% of the photons sent to the switch are blocked, and finally achieve an effective single-photon switch. There are on average 1-2 gate photons per effective blockade sphere in one gate pulse. This switching effect on a single entangled photon depends on the principal quantum number and the photon number of the gate field. Our experimental progress is significant in the quantum information process especially in controlling the interaction between Rydberg atoms and entangled photon pairs.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Indistinguishability-induced classical-to-nonclassical transition of photon statistics

Photon statistics is one of the key properties of the photon state for the study of quantum coherence and quantum information techniques. Here, we discuss the photon indistinguishability induced bunching effect which can significantly change photon statistics. Through the measurement of the second-order degree of coherence of a mixed photon state composed of a single-photon state and a weak coherent state, the statistical transition from a classical behavior to a nonclassical behavior is experimentally demonstrated by modifying the indistinguishability of the two-photon states. The study will help us to understand and control the photon statistics with a method for quantum optical coherence and quantum information applications. It also indicates that the photon indistinguishability is a key parameter for multipartite quantum coherence.Comment: 5pages, 5 figure

Indirect precise angular control using four-wave mixing

Here we show indirect precise angular control using a four-wave mixing (FWM) process. This was performed with a superposition of light with orbital angular momentum (OAM) in an M-Type configuration of a hot 85Rb atomic ensemble. A gear-shaped interference pattern is observed at FWM light with a donut-shaped input signal. The gear could be rotated and is controlled through the change of the polarization of the pump laser. Our experimental results that are based on nonlinear coherent interactions have applications in image processing and precise angular control.Comment: Accepted by Applied Physics Letter

High contrast quantum imaging with time-gated fluorescence detection

Optical detection of spin state has been widely used for the solid state spin qubit in the application of quantum information processing. The signal contrast determines the accuracy of quantum state manipulation, sensitivity of quantum sensing and resolution of quantum imaging. Here, we demonstrated a time-gated fluorescence detection method for enhancing the spin state signal contrast of nitrogen vacancy (NV) center in diamond. By adjusting the delay between time gate and the excitation laser pulse, we improved both the signal contrast and signal-to-noise ratio for NV spin detection. An enhancement ratio of 1.86 times was reached for the signal contrast. Utilizing the time-gated fluorescence detection, we further demonstrated a high contrast quantum imaging of nanoparticle's stray magnetic field. Without any additional manipulation of the quantum state, we expect that this method can be used to improve the performance of various applications with NV center

The template-specific fidelity of DNA replication with high-order neighbor effects: a first-passage approach

DNA replication fidelity is a critical issue in molecular biology. Biochemical experiments have provided key insights on the mechanism of fidelity control by DNAP in the past decades, whereas systematic theoretical studies on this issue began only recently. Because of the underlying difficulties of mathematical treatment, comprehensive surveys on the template-specific replication kinetics are still rare. Here we proposed a first-passage approach to address this problem, in particular the positional fidelity, for complicated processes with high-order neighbor effects. Under biologically-relevant conditions, we derived approximate analytical expressions of the positional fidelity which shows intuitively how some key kinetic pathways are coordinated to guarantee the high fidelity, as well as the high velocity, of the replication processes. It was also shown that the fidelity at any template position is dominantly determined by the nearest-neighbor template sequences, which is consistent with the idea that replication mutations are randomly distributed in the genome.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Mechanical bound state in the continuum for optomechanical microresonators

Clamping loss limits the quality factor of mechanical mode in the optomechanical resonators supported with the supporting stem. Using the mechanical bound state in the continuum, we have found that the mechanical clamping loss can be avoided. The mechanical quality factor of microsphere could be achieved up to 10^8 for a specific radius of the stem, where the different coupling channels between the resonator and supporting stem are orthogonal to each other. Such mechanism is proved to be universal for different geometries and materials, thus can also be generalized to design the high quality mechanical resonators.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Quantum statistical imaging of particles without restriction of the diffraction limit

A practical quantum measurement method based on the quantum nature of anti-bunching photon emission has been developed to detect single particles without the restriction of the diffraction limit. By simultane- ously counting the single-photon and two-photon signals with fluorescence microscopy, the images of nearby Nitrogen-Vacancy centers in diamond at a distance of 8.5+/-2.4 nm have been successfully reconstructed. Also their axes information was optically obtained. This quantum statistical imaging technique, with a simple exper- imental setup, can also be easily generalized in the measuring and distinguishing of other physical properties with any overlapping, which shows high potential in future image and study of coupled quantum systems for quantum information techniques.Comment: 5 figure