Time-domain Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of quasi-thermal fields and its application in linear optical circuit characterization

We study temporal correlations of interfering quasi-thermal fields, obtained by scattering laser radiation on a rotating ground glass disk. We show that the Doppler effect causes oscillations in temporal cross-correlation function. Furthermore, we propose how to use Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of quasi-thermal fields in the time domain to characterize linear optical circuits.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures (main), 4 pages, 1 figure (supplemental

Breaking Rayleigh's curse for multi-parameter objects using BLESS technique

According to the Rayleigh criterion, it is impossible to resolve two statistically independent point sources separated by a distance below the width of the point spread function (PSF). Almost twenty years ago it was shown that the distance between two point sources can be statistically estimated with an accuracy better than the PSF width. However, the estimation error increases with decreasing distance. This effect was informally named Rayleigh's curse. Next, it was demonstrated that PSF shaping allows breaking the curse provided that all other source parameters except for the distance, are known a priori. In this work, we propose a new imaging technique based on the target Beam moduLation and the Examination of Shot Statistics (BLESS). Using the Fisher information approach, we show that the technique can break Rayleigh's curse even for unbalanced point sources with unknown centroid and intensity ratio

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Exact mathematical description of the photon annihilation and beam splitter actio

Photoluminescent properties of single crystal diamond microneedles

Single crystal needle-like diamonds shaped as rectangular pyramids were produced by combination of chemical vapor deposition and selective oxidation with dimensions and geometrical characteristics depending on the deposition process parameters. Photoluminescence spectra and their dependencies on wavelength of excitation radiation reveal presence of nitrogen- and silicon-vacancy color centers in the diamond crystallites. Photoluminescence spectra, intensity mapping, and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy indicate that silicon-vacancy centers are concentrated at the crystallites apex while nitrogen-vacancy centers are distributed over the whole crystallite. Dependence of the photoluminescence on excitation radiation intensity demonstrates saturation and allows estimation of the color centers density. The combination of structural parameters, geometry and photoluminescent characteristics are prospective for advantageous applications of these diamond crystallites in quantum information processing and optical sensing.Authors are grateful for financial support from Russian Federation President Program for young scientist: Grant# МК-9230.2016.2 (for EAO and FTT) and Grant# MK-5860.2016.2 (for KGK).Peer reviewe

Optical Magnetism and Fundamental Modes of Nanodiamonds

The optical properties of color centers in nanodiamonds are widely used in various branches of photonics and interdisciplinary studies. Here, we report on an experimental study of the fundamental eigenmodes of subwavelength diamond nanoparticles. The eigenmodes reveal themselves as scattering resonances, which were measured by single-particle dark-field spectroscopy and calculated both numerically and analytically. The resonances experience a red-shift with increasing particle size, and in the case of an anisotropic particle, they change depending on the polarization of the input light. As an example of an application, the Purcell enhancement of the dipole emission from such nanodiamonds is numerically demonstrated. This study demonstrates a simple way to improve the efficiency of diamond-based sensors and single-photon sources by choosing nanoparticles of optimal size and shape