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We study the transmission of light through a system consisting of an arbitrary number N of microtoroidal resonators coupled to a one-dimensional (1D) waveguide. The transmission T through such a system and its full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) are calculated for various values of N and mutual-mode coupling coefficients. We found that at small mutual-mode coupling, the minimum transmission vanishes exponentially with N while the FWHM is proportional to N . At big mutual-mode coupling, as the number of resonators increases, the mode-splitting is reduced. Our findings contribute to better understanding of novel interfaces between quantum emitters and resonant photonic structures for quantum information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variance of difference of photocounts (VDPs) is an established measure of quantum correlations for quantum states of light. It enables us to discriminate between the classical correlation of a two-mode coherent state and the quantum correlation of a twin-beam state. We study the effect of loss and saturation of the photon number-resolving detector on the measurement of the VDPs. An analytic function is derived for this variance, both for the coherent and the twin-beam states. It is found that the VDPs is no longer a reliable entanglement measure in the nonlinear regime of the detector response but it remains useful in some range of values of average photon numbers of the incident light. We also quantify the linear regime of the detector with saturation which will be useful for calibration of the detector quantum efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Super-resolution virtual imaging by micron sized transparent beads (microspheres) was recently demonstrated by Wang et al. Practical applications in microscopy require control over the positioning of the microspheres. Here we present a method of positioning and controllable movement of a microsphere by using a fine glass micropipette. This allows sub-diffraction imaging at arbitrary points in three dimensions, as well as the ability to track moving objects. The results are relevant to a broad scope of applications, including sample inspection, microfabrication, and bio-imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium phosphide (GaP) is a promising material for nanophotonics, given its large refractive index and a transparency over most of the visible spectrum. However, since easy phase‐matching is not possible with bulk GaP, a comprehensive study of its nonlinear optical properties for harmonic generation, especially when grown as thin films, is still missing. Here, second harmonic generation is studied from epitaxially grown GaP thin films, demonstrating that the absolute conversion efficiencies are comparable to a bulk wafer over the pump wavelength range from 1060 to 1370 nm. Furthermore, the results are compared to nonlinear simulations, and the second order nonlinear susceptibility is extracted, showing a similar dispersion and magnitude to that of the bulk material. Furthermore, the third order nonlinear susceptibility of amorphous GaP thin films is extracted from third harmonic generation to be more than one order of magnitude larger than that of the crystalline material, and generation of up to the fifth harmonic is reported. The results show the potential of crystalline and amorphous thin films for nonlinear optics with nanoantennas and metasurfaces, particularly in the visible to near infrared part of the spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of single-photon emitters (SPEs) with resonant photonic structures is a promising approach for realizing compact and efficient single-photon sources for quantum communications, computing, and sensing. Efficient interaction between the SPE and the photonic cavity requires that the cavity's resonance matches the SPE's emission line. Here we demonstrate a new method for tuning silicon nitride (Si3N4) microring cavities via controlled deposition of the cladding layers. Guided by numerical simulations, we deposit silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanolayers onto Si3N4 ridge structures in steps of 50 nm. We show tuning of the cavity resonance exceeding a free spectral range (FSR) of 3.5 nm without degradation of the quality-factor (Q-factor) of the cavity. We then complement this method with localized laser heating for fine-tuning of the cavity. Finally, we verify that the cladding deposition does not alter the position and spectral properties of nanoparticles placed on the cavity, which suggests that our method can be useful for integrating SPEs with photonic structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid dielectric metasurfaces have emerged as a promising approach to enhancing near field confinement and thus high optical nonlinearity by utilizing low loss dielectric rather than relatively high loss metallic resonators. A wider range of applications can be realized if more design dimensions can be provided from material and fabrication perspectives to allow dynamic control of light. Here, tunable third harmonic generation (THG) via hybrid metasurfaces with phase change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) deposited on top of amorphous silicon metasurfaces is demonstrated. Fano resonance is excited to confine the incident light inside the hybrid metasurfaces, and an experimental quality factor (Q‐factor ≈ 125) is achieved at the fundamental pump wavelength around 1210 nm. Not only the switching between a turn‐on state of Fano resonance in the amorphous state of GST and a turn‐off state in its crystalline state are demonstrated, but also gradual multistate tuning of THG emission at its intermediate states. A high THG conversion efficiency of η = 2.9 × 10−6% is achieved, which is 32 times more than that of a GST‐based Fabry–Pèrot cavity under a similar pump laser power. Experimental results show the potential of exploring GST‐based hybrid dielectric metasurfaces for tunable nonlinear optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamond nanoparticles with optically active color centers can be used in nanoscale devices for quantum networking and sensing. A particular interest is focused on nanodiamonds (NDs) containing a small ensemble of negatively charged silicon‐vacancy (SiV) centers. Such NDs can be integrated with on‐chip optical structures. Here, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to synthesize diamond particles of less than 100 nm in size containing 10–20 centers per ND. Two types of NDs grown on a Si substrate are studied, seeded with detonation NDs and without any seeding. The SiV luminescence under off‐resonant and resonant laser excitation at the temperature of 15 K is investigated. The emission lines of SiVs of individual NDs are well resolved and found to be spread in the range of 730–750 nm. The typical SiV linewidth is within 1–2 GHz for spontaneous NDs, which is only a factor of 2.5–5 broader than the lifetime limited linewidth of the SiV at 15 K. The emission of a single SiV is highly stable for both types of samples. This work is a critical step toward the synthesis of SiVs suitable for the realization of integrated quantum photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that focuses on hyperspectral infrared microscopy with visible light. It mentions about the scanning electron microprobe and quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. It discusses the secondary ion mass spectrometry for in situ triple O isotopic measurements.

The article offers information on the efficient ultrafast all-optical modulation in a nonlinear crystalline gallium phosphide nanodisk at the anapole excitation. It demonstrated modulation depths than a certain percentage, placing GaP nanoantennas as a promising choice for ultrafast all-optical modulation at the nanometer scale.

Infrared (IR) imaging is one of the significant tools for the quality control measurements of fabricated samples. Standard IR imaging techniques use direct measurements, where light sources and detectors operate in the IR range. Due to the limited choices of IR light sources or detectors, challenges in reaching specific IR wavelengths may arise. In our work, we perform indirect IR microscopy based on the quantum imaging technique. This method allows us to probe the sample with IR light, while the detection is shifted into the visible or near-IR range. Thus, we demonstrate IR quantum imaging of the silicon chips at different magnifications, wherein a sample is probed at a 1550 nm wavelength, but the detection is performed at 810 nm. We also analyze the possible measurement conditions of the technique and estimate the time needed to perform quality control checks of samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The numerical aperture (NA) of a lens determines its ability to focus light and its resolving capability. Having a large NA is a very desirable quality for applications requiring small light–matter interaction volumes or large angular collections. Traditionally, a large NA lens based on light refraction requires precision bulk optics that ends up being expensive and is thus also a specialty item. In contrast, metasurfaces allow the lens designer to circumvent those issues producing high-NA lenses in an ultraflat fashion. However, so far, these have been limited to numerical apertures on the same order of magnitude as traditional optical components, with experimentally reported NA values of <0.9. Here we demonstrate, both numerically and experimentally, a new approach that results in a diffraction-limited flat lens with a near-unity numerical aperture (NA > 0.99) and subwavelength thickness (∼λ/3), operating with unpolarized light at 715 nm. To demonstrate its imaging capability, the designed lens is applied in a confocal configuration to map color centers in subdiffractive diamond nanocrystals. This work, based on diffractive elements that can efficiently bend light at angles as large as 82°, represents a step beyond traditional optical elements and existing flat optics, circumventing the efficiency drop associated with the standard, phase mapping approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an experiment in which one determines, with least tomographic effort, whether an unknown two-photon polarization state is entangled or separable. The method measures whole families of optimal entanglement witnesses. We introduce adaptive measurement schemes that greatly speed up the entanglement detection. The experiments are performed on states of different ranks, and we find good agreement with results from computer simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New tools and approaches of quantum optics offer a unique opportunity to generate light pulses carrying a precise number of photons. Accurate control over the light pulses helps to improve the characterization of photoinduced processes. Here, we study interaction of a specialized light source which provides flashes containing just one photon, with retinal rod cells of Xenopus laevis toads. We provide unambiguous proof of the single-photon sensitivity of rod cells without relying on the statistical modeling. We determine their quantum efficiencies without the use of any precalibrated detectors and obtain the value of (29 ± 4.7)%, Our approach provides the path for future studies and applications of quantum properties of light in phototransduction, vision, and photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a controllable method for producing mixed two-photon states via spontaneous parametric down-conversion with a two-type-I crystal geometry. By using variable polarization rotators (VPRs), one obtains mixed states of various purities and degrees of entanglement depending on the parameters of the VPRs. The generated states are characterized by quantum state tomography. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theory. The method can be easily implemented for various experiments that require the generation of states with controllable degrees of entanglement or mixedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the electrophysiological response of an isolated rod photoreceptor of Xenopus laevis under stimulation by coherent and pseudothermal light sources. Using the suction-electrode technique for single cell recordings and a fiber optics setup for light delivery allowed measurements of the major statistical characteristics of the rod response. The results indicate differences in average responses of rod cells to coherent and pseudothermal light of the same intensity and also differences in signal-to-noise ratios and second-order intensity correlation functions. These findings should be relevant for interdisciplinary studies seeking applications of quantum optics in biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Fano resonance; Ge 2Sb 2Te 5; hybrid metasurfaces; multistate tuning; phase change; third harmonic generation EN Fano resonance Ge 2Sb 2Te 5 hybrid metasurfaces multistate tuning phase change third harmonic generation 1 1 1 12/16/21 20211122 NES 211122 B Multistate Tuning b In article number 2104627, Renshaw Wang, Qi Jie Wang, Hong Liu, and co-workers demonstrate multistate tuning of third-harmonic generation via hybrid nonlinear metasurfaces. Fano resonance, Ge 2Sb 2Te 5, hybrid metasurfaces, multistate tuning, phase change, third harmonic generation A high Q-factor Fano resonance of up to 125 is experimentally achieved together with a third-harmonic conversion efficiency of 2.9 × 10 SP -6 sp % at a peak pump density of 1.7 GW cm SP 2 sp . [Extracted from the article]

We propose a new scheme for measuring the quantum efficiency of photon counting detectors by using correlated photons. The measurement technique is based on a 90° rotation of the polarization of one photon member of a: correlated pair produced by parametric down-conversion, conditioned on the detection of the other correlated photon after polarization selection. We present experimental results obtained with this scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is an indispensable tool for many practical applications including material analysis and sensing. Existing IR spectroscopy techniques face challenges related to the inferior performance and the high cost of IR-grade components. Here, we develop a new method, which allows studying properties of materials in the IR range using only visible light optics and detectors. It is based on the nonlinear interference of entangled photons, generated via Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC). In our interferometer, the phase of the signal photon in the visible range depends on the phase of an entangled IR photon. When the IR photon is traveling through the media, its properties can be found from observations of the visible photon. We directly acquire the SPDC signal with a visible range CCD camera and use a numerical algorithm to infer the absorption coefficient and the refraction index of the sample in the IR range. Our method does not require the use of a spectrometer and a slit, thus it allows achieving higher signal-to-noise ratio than the earlier developed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a multilayer device comprising a thin-film-based ferromagnetic heterostructure (FMH) deposited on a diamond layer doped with nitrogen vacancy centers (NVC's). We find that when the NVC's are in close proximity (1-2 nm) to the FMH, the exchange energy is comparable to, and may even surpass, the magnetostatic interaction energy. This calls forth the need to consider and utilize both effects in magnetometry based on NVC's in diamond. As the distance between the FMH and NVC is decreased to the subnanometer scale, the exponential increase in the exchange energy suggests spintronic applications of NVC's beyond magnetometry, such as detection of spin Hall effect or spin currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]