Unconditional Fock state generation using arbitrarily weak photonic nonlinearities

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel method to generate single-photon Fock states using extremely weak Kerr nonlinearities in a driven cavity, effective even with minimal nonlinear effects, and compatible with various photonic platforms.

Contribution

The authors propose a new mechanism for deterministic single-photon state generation leveraging weak nonlinearities, distinct from existing photon blockade methods, and applicable across multiple photonic systems.

Findings

Effective generation of non-Gaussian photon states with weak nonlinearities.

States exhibit a sharp photon number cutoff close to a single-photon Fock state.

Method compatible with standard drives and diverse photonic platforms.

Abstract

We present a new mechanism that harnesses extremely weak Kerr-type nonlinearities in a single driven cavity to deterministically generate single photon Fock states, and more general photon-blockaded states. Our method is effective even for nonlinearities that are orders-of-magnitude smaller than photonic loss. It is also completely distinct from so-called unconventional photon blockade mechanisms, as the generated states are non-Gaussian, exhibit a sharp cut-off in their photon number distribution, and can be arbitrary close to a single-photon Fock state. Our ideas require only standard linear and parametric drives, and is hence compatible with a variety of different photonic platforms.