0000000001082243
AUTHOR
Benjamin Wetzel
Observation of Kuznetsov-Ma soliton dynamics in optical fibre
International audience; The nonlinear Schro¨dinger equation (NLSE) is a central model of nonlinear science, applying to hydrodynamics, plasma physics, molecular biology and optics. The NLSE admits only few elementary analytic solutions, but one in particular describing a localized soliton on a finite background is of intense current interest in the context of understanding the physics of extreme waves. However, although the first solution of this type was the Kuznetzov-Ma (KM) soliton derived in 1977, there have in fact been no quantitative experiments confirming its validity. We report here novel experiments in optical fibre that confirm the KM soliton theory, completing an important serie…
On-chip frequency combs and telecommunications signal processing meet quantum optics
Entangled optical quantum states are essential towards solving questions in fundamental physics and are at the heart of applications in quantum information science. For advancing the research and development of quantum technologies, practical access to the generation and manipulation of photon states carrying significant quantum resources is required. Recently, integrated photonics has become a leading platform for the compact and cost-efficient generation and processing of optical quantum states. Despite significant advances, most on-chip nonclassical light sources are still limited to basic bi-photon systems formed by two-dimensional states (i.e., qubits). An interesting approach bearing …
Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs
We present a method for the generation and coherent manipulation of pulsed quantum frequency combs. Until now, methods of preparing high-dimensional states on-chip in a practical way have remained elusive due to the increasing complexity of the quantum circuitry needed to prepare and process such states. Here, we outline how high-dimensional, frequency-bin entangled, two-photon states can be generated at a stable, high generation rate by using a nested-cavity, actively mode-locked excitation of a nonlinear micro-cavity. This technique is used to produce pulsed quantum frequency combs. Moreover, we present how the quantum states can be coherently manipulated using standard telecommunications…
Kuznetsov-Ma Soliton Dynamics in Nonlinear Fiber Optics
The Kuznetzov-Ma (KM) soliton is a solution of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation derived in 1977 but never observed experimentally. Here we report experiments showing KM soliton dynamics in nonlinear breather evolution in optical fiber.
On-chip generation of high-dimensional entangled quantum states and their coherent control
Optical quantum states based on entangled photons are essential for solving questions in fundamental physics and are at the heart of quantum information science1. Specifically, the realization of high-dimensional states (D-level quantum systems, that is, qudits, with D > 2) and their control are necessary for fundamental investigations of quantum mechanics2, for increasing the sensitivity of quantum imaging schemes3, for improving the robustness and key rate of quantum communication protocols4, for enabling a richer variety of quantum simulations5, and for achieving more efficient and error-tolerant quantum computation6. Integrated photonics has recently become a leading platform for the co…
Generation and coherent manipulation of complex quantum states based on integrated frequency combs
The investigation and use of integrated frequency comb sources (i.e. featured by equally-spaced discrete spectral modes) have recently provided a unique framework to address the challenges of generation and coherent manipulation of complex quantum states in on-chip devices. We exploit integrated frequency combs for generating entangled photon pairs, as well as multi-photon states, and high-dimensional (D-level, i.e. quDit) entangled photons. In particular, we manage to coherently manipulate such complex quantum systems by using telecommunications components (standard fiber telecom).
Telecom-compatible, affordable and scalable quantum technologies
The realistic implementation of quantum architectures relies on the development of scalable, resource-efficient platforms that are compatible with CMOS technologies as well as fiber networks. This work demonstrates novel schemes utilized for time-/frequency-bin entanglement generation and processing by leveraging existing telecommunications and integrated photonics infrastructures.
Universal spectral dynamics of modulation instability : theory, simulation, experiment
A central process of nonlinear fibre optics is modulation instability (MI), where weak perturbations on a continuous wave are amplified to generate a parametric cascade of spectral sidebands. Although studied for many years, it has only been recently appreciated that MI dynamics can be described analytically by Akhmediev breather (AB) solutions to the nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) [1]. This has led to important results, including the first observation of the Peregrine Soliton [2]. AB theory has also shown that the spectral amplitudes at the peak of the MI gain curve yield a characteristic log-triangular spectrum, providing new insight into the initial phase of supercontinuum generat…
Quasi-soliton spatial autoguidé en milieu non lineaire quadratique
International audience; Nous démontrons ici des phénomènes d'autoguidage optique existant dans les milieux à non-linéarités quadratiques. En plus de la formation puis disparition d'un phénomène auto confiné, nous observons des effets de commutation ultrarapide et de démultiplication spatiale, ainsi qu'une restructuration temporelle suivie d'élargissements spectraux.
Random walks and random numbers from supercontinuum generation
International audience; We report a numerical study showing how the random intensity and phase fluctuations across the bandwidth of a broadband optical supercontinuum can be interpreted in terms of the random processes of random walks and L´evy flights. We also describe how the intensity fluctuations can be applied to physical random number generation. We conclude that the optical supercontinuum provides a highly versatile means of studying and generating a wide class of random processes at optical wavelengths.
Framework for complex quantum state generation and coherent control based on on-chip frequency combs
Integrated frequency combs introduce a scalable framework for the generation and manipulation of complex quantum states (including multi-photon and high-dimensional states), using only standard silicon chip and fiber telecommunications components.
Optical rogue waves and localized structures in nonlinear fiber optics
We review our recent work in the field of optical rogue wave physics. Beginning from a brief survey of the well-known instabilities in optical fiber, we trace the links to recent developments in studying the emergence of high contrast localized breather structures in both spontaneous and induced nonlinear instabilities.
Complex quantum state generation and coherent control based on integrated frequency combs
The investigation of integrated frequency comb sources characterized by equidistant spectral modes was initially driven by considerations towards classical applications, seeking a more practical and miniaturized way to generate stable broadband sources of light. Recently, in the context of scaling the complexity of optical quantum circuits, these on-chip approaches have provided a new framework to address the challenges associated with non-classical state generation and manipulation. For example, multi-photon and high-dimensional states were to date either inaccessible, lacked scalability, or were difficult to manipulate, requiring elaborate approaches. The emerging field of quantum frequen…
Integrated generation of complex optical quantum states and their coherent control
Complex optical quantum states based on entangled photons are essential for investigations of fundamental physics and are the heart of applications in quantum information science. Recently, integrated photonics has become a leading platform for the compact, cost-efficient, and stable generation and processing of optical quantum states. However, onchip sources are currently limited to basic two-dimensional (qubit) two-photon states, whereas scaling the state complexity requires access to states composed of several (<2) photons and/or exhibiting high photon dimensionality. Here we show that the use of integrated frequency combs (on-chip light sources with a broad spectrum of evenly-spaced fre…
Nonlinear dynamics of modulated signals in optical fibers
International audience; The nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) describes the nonlinear waves localization dynamics in weakly dispersive media, and it has been extensively studied in various contexts in nonlinear science. A particular class of solutions of the NLSE that has recently attracted considerable attention is that of the solitons on finite background as their localization dynamics have been proposed as an important mechanism underlying the formation of extreme amplitude waves on the surface of the ocean. Much of this work has also been motivated by an extensive parallel research effort research in optics that has shown how nonlinear optical fiber systems can be used to implement …
Real-time measurements of spontaneous breathers and rogue wave events in optical fibre modulation instability
Modulation instability is a fundamental process of nonlinear science, leading to the unstable breakup of a constant amplitude solution of a physical system. There has been particular interest in studying modulation instability in the cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation, a generic model for a host of nonlinear systems including superfluids, fibre optics, plasmas and Bose–Einstein condensates. Modulation instability is also a significant area of study in the context of understanding the emergence of high amplitude events that satisfy rogue wave statistical criteria. Here, exploiting advances in ultrafast optical metrology, we perform real-time measurements in an optical fibre system of the u…
On-chip entangled D-level photon states – scalable generation and coherent processing
Exploiting a micro-cavity-based quantum frequency comb, we demonstrate the on-chip generation of high-dimensional entangled quantum states with a Hilbert-space dimensionality larger than 100, and introduce a coherent control approach relying on standard telecommunications components.
Scalable on-chip generation and coherent control of complex optical quantum states
Integrated quantum frequency combs provide access to multi-photon and high-dimensional entangled states, and their control via standard telecommunications components, and can thus open paths for reaching the state complexities required for meaningful quantum information science.
Dynamique des solitons de Kuznetsov-Ma observée en optique fibrée non-linéaire
International audience; Le soliton de Kuznetzov-Ma est une solution de l'équation de Schrödinger non-linéaire qui a été identifiée dès 1977 mais qui à ce jour n'avait encore jamais été observée expérimentalement. Nous décrivons ici une expérience mettant en évidence la dynamique du soliton KM à travers la propagation non-linéaire de breathers dans une fibre optique.
Spectral dynamics of modulation instability described using Akhmediev breather theory
International audience; The Akhmediev breather formalism of modulation instability is extended to describe the spectral dynamics of induced multiple sideband generation from a modulated continuous wave field. Exact theoretical results describing the frequency domain evolution are compared with experiments performed using single mode fiber around 1550 nm. The spectral theory is shown to reproduce the depletion dynamics of an injected modulated continuous wave pump and to describe the Fermi-Pasta Ulam recurrence and recovery towards the initial state. Realistic simulations including higher-order dispersion, loss and Raman scattering are used to identify that the primary physical factors that …
On-chip quantum optical frequency comb sources
Integrated optical frequency comb sources, based on nonlinear microring resonators, can be used to generate complex quantum states. In particular, we achieved multi-photon and high-dimensional entangled quantum states, as well as their coherent control.
Integrated Generation of High-dimensional Entangled Photon States and Their Coherent Control
Exploiting a frequency-domain approach, we demonstrate the generation of high-dimensional entangled quantum states with a Hilbert-space dimensionality larger than 100 from an on-chip nonlinear microcavity, and introduce a coherent control platform using standard telecommunications components.
Practical system for the generation of pulsed quantum frequency combs
The on-chip generation of large and complex optical quantum states will enable low-cost and accessible advances for quantum technologies, such as secure communications and quantum computation. Integrated frequency combs are on-chip light sources with a broad spectrum of evenly-spaced frequency modes, commonly generated by four-wave mixing in optically-excited nonlinear micro-cavities, whose recent use for quantum state generation has provided a solution for scalable and multi-mode quantum light sources. Pulsed quantum frequency combs are of particular interest, since they allow the generation of single-frequency-mode photons, required for scaling state complexity towards, e.g., multi-photon…