Photonic Nonlinearities via Quantum Zeno Blockade

TL;DR

This paper proposes using quantum Zeno blockade in lithium-niobate microresonators to achieve high-fidelity, deterministic phase gates between single photons, advancing optical nonlinearities at the quantum level.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach leveraging quantum Zeno blockade to realize optical nonlinearities at the single-photon level in integrated photonic devices.

Findings

Deterministic phase gate with near-unity fidelity achieved.

Quantum Zeno blockade effectively enhances nonlinear interactions.

Applicable to classical and quantum all-optical technologies.

Abstract

Realizing optical-nonlinear effects at a single-photon level is a highly desirable but also extremely challenging task, because of both fundamental and practical difficulties. We present an avenue to surmounting these difficulties by exploiting quantum Zeno blockade in nonlinear optical systems. Considering specifically a lithium-niobate microresonator, we find that a deterministic phase gate can be realized between single photons with near-unity fidelity. Supported by established techniques for fabricating and operating such devices, our approach can provide an enabling tool for all-optical applications in both classical and quantum domains.