Microscale Generation of Entangled Photons without Momentum Conservation

Okoth C, Cavanna A, Santiago-Cruz T, Chekhova M (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Physical Review Letters American Physical Society

Book Volume: 123

Article Number: 263602

Journal Issue: 26

DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.263602

Abstract

We report, for the first time, the observation of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) free of phase matching (momentum conservation). We alleviate the need to conserve momentum by exploiting the position-momentum uncertainty relation and using a planar geometry source, a 6 μm thick layer of lithium niobate. Nonphase-matched SPDC opens up a new platform on which to investigate fundamental quantum effects but it also has practical applications. The ultrasmall thickness leads to a frequency spectrum an order of magnitude broader than that of phase-matched SPDC. The strong two-photon correlations are still preserved due to energy conservation. This results in ultrashort temporal correlation widths and huge frequency entanglement. The studies we make here can be considered as the initial steps into the emerging field of nonlinear quantum optics on the microscale and nanoscale.

Authors with CRIS profile

Cameron Okoth Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik) Andrea Cavanna Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik) Maria Chekhova Lehrstuhl für Experimentalphysik (Optik)

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Okoth, C., Cavanna, A., Santiago-Cruz, T., & Chekhova, M. (2019). Microscale Generation of Entangled Photons without Momentum Conservation. Physical Review Letters, 123(26). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.263602

MLA:

Okoth, Cameron, et al. "Microscale Generation of Entangled Photons without Momentum Conservation." Physical Review Letters 123.26 (2019).

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