Search results for "orbital angular momentum"
showing 10 items of 23 documents
Dynamical learning of a photonics quantum-state engineering process
2021
Abstract. Experimental engineering of high-dimensional quantum states is a crucial task for several quantum information protocols. However, a high degree of precision in the characterization of the noisy experimental apparatus is required to apply existing quantum-state engineering protocols. This is often lacking in practical scenarios, affecting the quality of the engineered states. We implement, experimentally, an automated adaptive optimization protocol to engineer photonic orbital angular momentum (OAM) states. The protocol, given a target output state, performs an online estimation of the quality of the currently produced states, relying on output measurement statistics, and determine…
Measurement of spin-orbital angular momentum interactions in relativistic heavy-ion collisions
2020
The first evidence of spin alignment of vector mesons ($K^{*0}$ and $\phi$) in heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is reported. The spin density matrix element $\rho_{00}$ is measured at midrapidity ($|y| <$ 0.5) in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy ($\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}}$) of 2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector. $\rho_{00}$ values are found to be less than 1/3 (1/3 implies no spin alignment) at low transverse momentum ($p_{\rm T} <$ 2 GeV/$c$) for $K^{*0}$ and $\phi$ at a level of 3$\sigma$ and 2$\sigma$, respectively. No significant spin alignment is observed for the $K^0_S$ meson (spin = 0) in Pb-Pb collisions and for the vector mesons in $pp$ collisions. The meas…
Quantum state engineering using one-dimensional discrete-time quantum walks
2017
Quantum state preparation in high-dimensional systems is an essential requirement for many quantum-technology applications. The engineering of an arbitrary quantum state is, however, typically strongly dependent on the experimental platform chosen for implementation, and a general framework is still missing. Here we show that coined quantum walks on a line, which represent a framework general enough to encompass a variety of different platforms, can be used for quantum state engineering of arbitrary superpositions of the walker's sites. We achieve this goal by identifying a set of conditions that fully characterize the reachable states in the space comprising walker and coin, and providing …
Machine Learning-Based Classification of Vector Vortex Beams.
2020
Structured light is attracting significant attention for its diverse applications in both classical and quantum optics. The so-called vector vortex beams display peculiar properties in both contexts due to the non-trivial correlations between optical polarization and orbital angular momentum. Here we demonstrate a new, flexible experimental approach to the classification of vortex vector beams. We first describe a platform for generating arbitrary complex vector vortex beams inspired to photonic quantum walks. We then exploit recent machine learning methods -- namely convolutional neural networks and principal component analysis -- to recognize and classify specific polarization patterns. O…
Generation of Non-Classical States through QND-like Processes
2007
In the spirit of quantum nondemolition measurement we show that repeatedly measuring the atomic state of a trapped ion subjected to suitable vibronic couplings it is possible to extract interesting nonclassical states. The possibility of generating angular momentum Schrödinger cat is demonstrated.
Regression of high-dimensional angular momentum states of light
2023
The Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) of light is an infinite-dimensional degree of freedom of light with several applications in both classical and quantum optics. However, to fully take advantage of the potential of OAM states, reliable detection platforms to characterize generated states in experimental conditions are needed. Here, we present an approach to reconstruct input OAM states from measurements of the spatial intensity distributions they produce. To obviate issues arising from intrinsic symmetry of Laguerre-Gauss modes, we employ a pair of intensity profiles per state projecting it only on two distinct bases, showing how this allows to uniquely recover input states from the collect…
Angular Momentum Coupling
2007
In nuclear physics, as also in atomic and molecular physics, the entities to be described consist of sub-entities with some orbital angular momentum and spin. The angular momentum of the entity is built, then, of the angular momenta of the sub-entities. This building process leads to quantum-mechanical angular momentum coupling. This chapter presents the basic machinery for treating angular momentum and its coupling. Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and 3j symbols are introduced. It is shown that Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and 3j symbols relate to the coupling of two angular momenta. Increasing the number of angular momenta to be coupled leads to more complicated coupling patterns. Transformati…
Symmetry-induced forces on phase singularities
2010
We show the existence of external forces acting on phase singularities whose origin can be attributed to the presence of short-term discrete-symmetry potentials. These special forces can break highly charged phase singularities into single-charged ones and provide them with non-zero orbital angular momentum even when the potential no longer acts.
Distilling angular momentum nonclassical states in trapped ions
2004
In the spirit of Quantum Non-Demolition Measurements, we show that exploiting suitable vibronic couplings and repeatedly measuring the atomic population of a confined ion, it is possible to distill center of mass vibrational states with well defined square of angular momentum or, alternatively, angular momentum projection Schr\"odinger cat states.
Electric-Field-Induced Symmetry Breaking of Angular Momentum Distribution in Atoms
2006
We report the experimental observation of alignment to orientation conversion in the 7D_3/2 and 9D_3/2 states of Cs in the presence of an external dc electric field, and without the influence of magnetic fields or atomic collisions. Initial alignment of angular momentum states was created by two-step excitation with linearly polarized laser radiation. The appearance of transverse orientation of angular momentum was confirmed by the observation of circularly polarized light. We present experimentally measured signals and compare them with the results of a detailed theoretical model based on the optical Bloch equations.