Measurement-based generation of shaped single photons and coherent state superpositions in optical cavities

TL;DR

This paper introduces schemes for generating arbitrarily shaped single photons and coherent state superpositions in optical cavities using simple optical elements, heralding, and feedback control.

Contribution

It presents novel cavity-based methods for on-demand photon shaping and superposition generation, incorporating feedback for state preservation and enhanced control.

Findings

Successful heralded photon shaping with arbitrary profiles

Generation of coherent state superpositions via postselection

Implementation of No-Knowledge Feedback for state preservation

Abstract

We propose related schemes to generate arbitrarily shaped single photons, i.e. photons with an arbitrary temporal profile, and coherent state superpositions using simple optical elements. The first system consists of two coupled cavities, a memory cavity and a shutter cavity, containing a second order optical nonlinearity and electro-optic modulator (EOM) respectively. Photodetection events of the shutter cavity output herald preparation of a single photon in the memory cavity, which may be stored by immediately changing the optical length of the shutter cavity with the EOM after detection. On-demand readout of the photon, with arbitrary shaping, can be achieved through modulation of the EOM. The second scheme consists of a memory cavity with two outputs which are interfered, phase shifted, and measured. States that closely approximate a coherent state superposition can be produced through postselection for sequences of detection events, with more photon detection events leading to a larger superposition. We furthermore demonstrate that `No-Knowledge Feedback' can be easily implemented in this system and used to preserve the superposition state, as well as provide an extra control mechanism for state generation.