Classical and quantum interference in multiband optical Bloch oscillations

TL;DR

This paper explores classical and quantum interference phenomena in multiband optical Bloch oscillations within coupled waveguide arrays, revealing spontaneous interference effects and quantum fringe doubling in photon counting.

Contribution

It introduces the theoretical analysis of interference effects in multiband BOs, including spontaneous Mach-Zehnder-like interference and quantum fringe doubling with entangled photons.

Findings

Spontaneous Mach-Zehnder-like interference effects in multiband BOs

Doubling of interference fringes for entangled photon pairs in two-band BOs

Theoretical demonstration of quantum interference phenomena in optical Bloch oscillations

Abstract

Classical and quantum interference of light propagating in arrays of coupled waveguides and undergoing multiband optical Bloch oscillations (BOs) with negligible Zener tunneling is theoretically investigated. In particular, it is shown that Mach-Zehnder-like interference effects spontaneously arise in multiband BOs owing to beam splitting and subsequent beam recombination occurring in one BO cycle. As a noteworthy example of quantum interference, we discuss the doubling of interference fringes in photon counting rates for a correlated photon pair undergoing two-band BOs, a phenomenon analogous to the manifestation of the de Broglie wavelength of an entangled biphoton state observed in quantum Mach-Zehnder interferometry.