Quantum Nonlinear Optics in Optomechanical Nanoscale Waveguides

authored by: Hashem Zoubi, Klemens Hammerer
Abstract: We show that strong nonlinearities at the few photon level can be achieved in optomechanical nanoscale waveguides. We consider the propagation of photons in cm-scale one-dimensional nanophotonic structures where stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is strongly enhanced by radiation pressure coupling. We introduce a configuration that allows slowing down photons by several orders of magnitude via SBS from sound waves using two pump fields. Slowly propagating photons can then experience strong nonlinear interactions through virtual off-resonant exchange of dispersionless phonons. As a benchmark we identify requirements for achieving a large cross-phase modulation among two counterpropagating photons applicable for photonic quantum gates. Our results indicate that strongly nonlinear quantum optics is possible in continuum optomechanical systems realized in nanophotonic structures.
Organisation(s): Institute of Gravitation Physics
Institute of Theoretical Physics
CRC 1227 Designed Quantum States of Matter (DQ-mat)
Type: Article
Journal: Physical Review Letters
Volume: 119
ISSN: 0031-9007
Publication date: 21.09.2017
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy(all)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.123602 (Access: Unknown)

BibTeX

@article{dbffc2fe041445bf8815a4b8580e56f1,
title = "Quantum Nonlinear Optics in Optomechanical Nanoscale Waveguides",
abstract = "We show that strong nonlinearities at the few photon level can be achieved in optomechanical nanoscale waveguides. We consider the propagation of photons in cm-scale one-dimensional nanophotonic structures where stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is strongly enhanced by radiation pressure coupling. We introduce a configuration that allows slowing down photons by several orders of magnitude via SBS from sound waves using two pump fields. Slowly propagating photons can then experience strong nonlinear interactions through virtual off-resonant exchange of dispersionless phonons. As a benchmark we identify requirements for achieving a large cross-phase modulation among two counterpropagating photons applicable for photonic quantum gates. Our results indicate that strongly nonlinear quantum optics is possible in continuum optomechanical systems realized in nanophotonic structures.",
author = "Hashem Zoubi and Klemens Hammerer",
note = "Funding information: This work was funded by the European Commission (FP7-Programme) through iQUOEMS (Grant Agreement No. 323924). We acknowledge support by DFG through QUEST and SFB 1227 (DQmat). We thank Raphael Van Laer for fruitful discussions.",
year = "2017",
month = sep,
day = "21",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.123602",
language = "English",
volume = "119",
journal = "Physical Review Letters",
issn = "0031-9007",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "12",
}