Ultrafast pump-probe phase-randomized tomography

Glerean F, Rigoni EM, Jarc G, Mathengattil SY, Montanaro A, Giusti F, Mitrano M, Benatti F, Fausti D (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Light: Science & Applications CIOMP

Book Volume: 14

Article Number: 115

Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41377-025-01789-y

Abstract

Measuring fluctuations in matter’s low-energy excitations is the key to unveiling the nature of the non-equilibrium response of materials. A promising outlook in this respect is offered by spectroscopic methods that address matter fluctuations by exploiting the statistical nature of light-matter interactions with weak few-photon probes. Here we report the first implementation of ultrafast phase randomized tomography, combining pump-probe experiments with quantum optical state tomography, to measure the ultrafast non-equilibrium dynamics in complex materials. Our approach utilizes a time-resolved multimode heterodyne detection scheme with phase-randomized coherent ultrashort laser pulses, overcoming the limitations of phase-stable configurations and enabling a robust reconstruction of the statistical distribution of phase-averaged optical observables. This methodology is validated by measuring the coherent phonon response in α-quartz. By tracking the dynamics of the shot-noise limited photon number distribution of few-photon probes with ultrafast resolution, our results set an upper limit to the non-classical features of phononic state in α-quartz and provide a pathway to access non-equilibrium quantum fluctuations in more complex quantum materials.

Authors with CRIS profile

Angela Montanaro Lehrstuhl für Festkörperphysik Daniele Fausti Lehrstuhl für Festkörperphysik

Involved external institutions

Harvard University US United States (USA) (US) Università degli Studi di Trieste IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Glerean, F., Rigoni, E.M., Jarc, G., Mathengattil, S.Y., Montanaro, A., Giusti, F.,... Fausti, D. (2025). Ultrafast pump-probe phase-randomized tomography. Light: Science & Applications, 14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01789-y

MLA:

Glerean, Filippo, et al. "Ultrafast pump-probe phase-randomized tomography." Light: Science & Applications 14 (2025).

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