491 research outputs found
Nonlinear cross-Kerr quasiclassical dynamics
We study the quasiclassical dynamics of the cross-Kerr effect. In this
approximation, the typical periodical revivals of the decorrelation between the
two polarization modes disappear and they remain entangled. By mapping the
dynamics onto the Poincare space, we find simple conditions for polarization
squeezing. When dissipation is taken into account, the shape of the states in
such a space is not considerably modified, but their size is reduced.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure
Angular performance measure for tighter uncertainty relations
The uncertainty principle places a fundamental limit on the accuracy with
which we can measure conjugate physical quantities. However, the fluctuations
of these variables can be assessed in terms of different estimators. We propose
a new angular performance that allows for tighter uncertainty relations for
angle and angular momentum. The differences with previous bounds can be
significant for particular states and indeed may be amenable to experimental
measurement with the present technology.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figures. Comments welcom
Nondiffracting beams for vortex tomography
We propose a reconstruction of vortex beams based on the implementation of
quadratic transformations in the orbital angular momentum. The information is
encoded in a superposition of Bessel-like nondiffracting beams. The measurement
of the angular probability distribution at different positions allows for the
reconstruction of the Wigner function.Comment: 3 pages. 2 eps figures. To appear in Optics Letter
A Hybrid Long-Distance Entanglement Distribution Protocol
We propose a hybrid (continuous-discrete variable) quantum repeater protocol
for distribution of entanglement over long distances. Starting from entangled
states created by means of single-photon detection, we show how entangled
coherent state superpositions, also known as `Schr\"odinger cat states', can be
generated by means of homodyne detection of light. We show that
near-deterministic entanglement swapping with such states is possible using
only linear optics and homodyne detectors, and we evaluate the performance of
our protocol combining these elements.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Orbital angular momentum from marginals of quadrature distributions
We set forth a method to analyze the orbital angular momentum of a light
field. Instead of using the canonical formalism for the conjugate pair
angle-angular momentum, we model this latter variable by the superposition of
two independent harmonic oscillators along two orthogonal axes. By describing
each oscillator by a standard Wigner function, we derive, via a consistent
change of variables, a comprehensive picture of the orbital angular momentum.
We compare with previous approaches and show how this method works in some
relevant examples.Comment: 7 pages, 2 color figure
Evaluation of the optical switching characteristics of erbium-doped fibres for the development of a fibre Bragg grating sensor interrogator
A polling topology that employs optical switching based on the properties of erbium-doped fibres (EDFs) is used to interrogate an array of FBGs. The properties of the EDF are investigated in its pumped and un-pumped states and the EDFs’ switching properties are evaluated by comparing them with a high performance electronically controlled MEM optical switch. Potential advantages of the proposed technique are discussed. © (2014) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only
Wigner function for twisted photons
A comprehensive theory of the Weyl-Wigner formalism for the canonical pair
angle-angular momentum is presented, with special emphasis in the implications
of rotational periodicity and angular-momentum discreteness.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Improvement of continuous-variable quantum key distribution systems by using optical preamplifiers
Continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocols, based on Gaussian
modulation of the quadratures of coherent states, have been implemented in
recent experiments. A present limitation of such systems is the finite
efficiency of the detectors, which can in principle be compensated for by the
use of classical optical preamplifiers. Here we study this possibility in
detail, by deriving the modified secret key generation rates when an optical
parametric amplifier is placed at the output of the quantum channel. After
presenting a general set of security proofs, we show that the use of
preamplifiers does compensate for all the imperfections of the detectors when
the amplifier is optimal in terms of gain and noise. Imperfect amplifiers can
also enhance the system performance, under conditions which are generally
satisfied in practice.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to J. Phys. B (special issue on Few
Atoms Optics
Avalanche Photo-Detection for High Data Rate Applications
Avalanche photo detection is commonly used in applications which require
single photon sensitivity. We examine the limits of using avalanche photo
diodes (APD) for characterising photon statistics at high data rates. To
identify the regime of linear APD operation we employ a ps-pulsed diode laser
with variable repetition rates between 0.5MHz and 80MHz. We modify the mean
optical power of the coherent pulses by applying different levels of
well-calibrated attenuation. The linearity at high repetition rates is limited
by the APD dead time and a non-linear response arises at higher photon-numbers
due to multiphoton events. Assuming Poissonian input light statistics we
ascertain the effective mean photon-number of the incident light with high
accuracy. Time multiplexed detectors (TMD) allow to accomplish photon- number
resolution by photon chopping. This detection setup extends the linear response
function to higher photon-numbers and statistical methods may be used to
compensate for non-linearity. We investigated this effect, compare it to the
single APD case and show the validity of the convolution treatment in the TMD
data analysis.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figure
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