68 research outputs found
Strong laser fields and their power to generate controllable high-photon-number coherent-state superpositions
Recently, intensely driven laser-matter interactions have been used to
connect the fields of strong laser field physics with quantum optics by
generating non-classical states of light. Here, we make a further key step and
show the potential of strong laser fields for generating controllable
high-photon-number coherent-state superpositions. This has been achieved by
using two of the most prominent strong-laser induced processes: high-harmonic
generation and above-threshold ionization. We show how the obtained
coherent-state superpositions change from an optical Schr\"odinger "cat" state
to a "kitten" state by changing the atomic density in the laser-atom
interaction region, and we demonstrate the generation of a 9-photon shifted
optical "cat" state which, to our knowledge, is the highest photon number
optical "cat" state experimentally reported. Our findings anticipate the
development of new methods that naturally lead to the creation of
high-photon-number controllable coherent-state superpositions, advancing
investigations in quantum technology.Comment: Revised version submitted to Physical Review
Generation of optical Schrödinger cat states in intense laser-matter interactions
The physics of intense laser–matter interactions1,2 is described by treating the light pulses classically, anticipating no need to access optical measurements beyond the classical limit. However, the quantum nature of the electromagnetic fields is always present3. Here we demonstrate that intense laser–atom interactions may lead to the generation of highly non-classical light states. This was achieved by using the process of high-harmonic generation in atoms4,5, in which the photons of a driving laser pulse of infrared frequency are upconverted into photons of higher frequencies in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. The quantum state of the fundamental mode after the interaction, when conditioned on the high-harmonic generation, is a so-called Schrödinger cat state, which corresponds to a superposition of two distinct coherent states: the initial state of the laser and the coherent state reduced in amplitude that results from the interaction with atoms. The results open the path for investigations towards the control of the non-classical states, exploiting conditioning approaches on physical processes relevant to high-harmonic generation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Development of a Biodegradable Subcutaneous Implant for Prolonged Drug Delivery Using 3D Printing
Implantable drug delivery devices offer many advantages over other routes of drug delivery. Most significantly, the delivery of lower doses of drug, thus, potentially reducing side-effects and improving patient compliance. Three dimensional (3D) printing is a flexible technique, which has been subject to increasing interest in the past few years, especially in the area of medical devices. The present work focussed on the use of 3D printing as a tool to manufacture implantable drug delivery devices to deliver a range of model compounds (methylene blue, ibuprofen sodium and ibuprofen acid) in two in vitro models. Five implant designs were produced, and the release rate varied, depending on the implant design and the drug properties. Additionally, a rate controlling membrane was produced, which further prolonged the release from the produced implants, signalling the potential use of these devices for chronic conditions
Entanglement and non-classical states of light in a strong-laser driven solid-state system
The development of sources delivering non-classical states of light is one of
the main needs for applications of optical quantum information science. Here,
we demonstrate the generation of non-classical states of light using
strong-laser fields driving a solid-state system, by using the process of
high-order harmonic generation, where an electron tunnels out of the parent
site and, later on, recombines on it emitting high-order harmonic radiation, at
the expense of affecting the driving laser field. Since in solid-state systems
the recombination of the electron can be delocalized along the material, the
final state of the electron determines how the electromagnetic field gets
affected because of the laser-matter interaction, leading to the generation of
entanglement between the electron and the field. These features can be enhanced
by applying conditioning operations, i.e., quantum operations based on the
measurement of high-harmonic radiation. We study non-classical features present
in the final quantum optical state, and characterize the amount of entanglement
between the light and the electrons in the solid. The work sets the foundation
for the development of compact solid-state-based non-classical light sources
using strong-field physics.Comment: We present a different formulation to that of the previous version,
more in line with the approach followed in our previous works. 12 pages (8
main text + 4 Methods), 4 figures. Comments are welcom
Quantum Optical Analysis of High-Order Harmonic Generation in Semiconductors
The following sections are included: Introduction Semiclassical Analysis of the Light-Matter Interaction Quantum Optical Analysis of the Light-Matter Interaction Outlook Acknowledgments Reference
Entanglement and squeezing of the optical field modes in high harmonic generation
Squeezing of optical fields, used as a powerful resource for many
applications, and the radiation properties in the process of high harmonic
generation have thus far been considered separately. In this Letter, we want to
clarify that the joint quantum state of all the optical field modes in the
process of high harmonic generation is in general entangled and squeezed. We
show that this is already the case in the simplest scenario of driving
uncorrelated atoms by a classical laser light field. The previous observation
of product coherent states after the high harmonic generation process is a
consequence of the assumption that the ground state depletion can be neglected,
which is related to vanishing dipole moment correlations. Furthermore, we
analyze how the resulting quadrature squeezing in the fundamental laser mode
after the interaction can be controlled and explicitly show that all field
modes are entangled.Comment: 4 pages (2 figures
3D Printing of Drug-Loaded Thermoplastic Polyurethane Meshes: A Potential Material for Soft Tissue Reinforcement in Vaginal Surgery
Current strategies to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) or stress urinary incontinence (SUI), include the surgical implantation of vaginal meshes. Recently, there have been multiple reports of issues generated by these meshes conventionally made of poly(propylene). This material is not the ideal candidate, due to its mechanical properties leading to complications such as chronic pain and infection. In the present manuscript, we propose the use of an alternative material, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), loaded with an antibiotic in combination with fused deposition modelling (FDM) to prepare safer vaginal meshes. For this purpose, TPU filaments containing levofloxacin (LFX) in various concentrations (e.g., 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1%) were produced by extrusion. These filaments were used to 3D print vaginal meshes. The printed meshes were fully characterized through different tests/analyses such as fracture force studies, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT), release studies and microbiology testing. The results showed that LFX was uniformly distributed within the TPU matrix, regardless the concentration loaded. The mechanical properties showed that poly(propylene) (PP) is a tougher material with a lower elasticity than TPU, which seemed to be a more suitable material due to its elasticity. In addition, the printed meshes showed a significant bacteriostatic activity on both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli cultures, minimising the risk of infection after implanting them. Therefore, the incorporation of LFX to the TPU matrix can be used to prepare anti-infective vaginal meshes with enhanced mechanical properties compared with current PP vaginal meshes
Quantum optical analysis of high-order harmonic generation in H molecular ions
We present a comprehensive theoretical investigation of high-order harmonic
generation in H molecular ions within a quantum optical framework. Our
study focuses on characterizing various quantum optical and quantum information
measures, highlighting the versatility of HHG in two-center molecules towards
quantum technology applications. We demonstrate the emergence of entanglement
between electron and light states after the laser-matter interaction. We also
identify the possibility of obtaining non-classical states of light in targeted
frequency modes by conditioning on specific electronic quantum states, which
turn out to be crucial in the generation of highly non-classical entangled
states between distinct sets of harmonic modes. Our findings open up avenues
for studying strong-laser field-driven interactions in molecular systems, and
suggest their applicability to quantum technology applications.Comment: 21 pages (14 main text + 7 appendix), 9 figures (8 main text + 1
appendix
Strong laser physics, non-classical light states and quantum information science
Strong laser physics is a research direction that relies on the use of
high-power lasers and has led to fascinating achievements ranging from
relativistic particle acceleration to attosecond science. On the other hand,
quantum optics has been built on the use of low photon number sources and has
opened the way for groundbreaking discoveries in quantum technology, advancing
investigations ranging from fundamental tests of quantum theory to quantum
information processing. Despite the tremendous progress, until recently these
directions have remained disconnected. This is because, the majority of the
interactions in the strong-field limit have been successfully described by
semi-classical approximations treating the electromagnetic field classically,
as there was no need to include the quantum properties of the field to explain
the observations. The link between strong laser physics, quantum optics, and
quantum information science has been developed in the recent past. Studies
based on fully quantized and conditioning approaches have shown that intense
laser--matter interactions can be used for the generation of controllable
entangled and non-classical light states. This achievement opens the way for a
vast number of investigations stemming from the symbiosis of strong laser
physics, quantum optics, and quantum information science. Here, after an
introduction to the fundamentals of these research directions, we report on the
recent progress in the fully quantized description of intense laser--matter
interaction and the methods that have been developed for the generation of
non-classical light states and entangled states. Also, we discuss the future
directions of non-classical light engineering using strong laser fields, and
the potential applications in ultrafast and quantum information science.Comment: 60 pages, 20 figures. Comments are welcom
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