Photonics Research, 2019, 7 (11): 11000A45, Published Online: Oct. 22, 2019
Generation of optical Fock and W states with single-atom-based bright quantum scissors
Abstract
We introduce a multi-step protocol for optical quantum state engineering that performs as “bright quantum scissors,” namely truncates an arbitrary input quantum state to have at least a certain number of photons. The protocol exploits single-photon pulses and is based on the effect of single-photon Raman interaction, which is implemented with a single three-level system (e.g., a single atom) Purcell-enhanced by a single-sided cavity. A single step of the protocol realizes the inverse of the bosonic annihilation operator. Multiple iterations of the protocol can be used to deterministically generate a chain of single photons in a W state. Alternatively, upon appropriate heralding, the protocol can be used to generate Fock-state optical pulses. This protocol could serve as a useful and versatile building block for the generation of advanced optical quantum states that are vital for quantum communication, distributed quantum information processing, and all-optical quantum computing.
Ziv Aqua, M. S. Kim, Barak Dayan. Generation of optical Fock and W states with single-atom-based bright quantum scissors[J]. Photonics Research, 2019, 7(11): 11000A45.