Loss-Induced Quantum Revival

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that, contrary to traditional beliefs, loss can induce quantum revival of optical correlations at the single-photon level, enabling control over photon blockade phenomena in nonlinear optical systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism where increasing loss beyond a critical point restores quantum correlations and photon blockade, reversing the typical destructive role of loss in quantum systems.

Findings

Loss-induced transparency occurs in the system.

Quantum revival of photon blockade is achieved with increased loss.

Loss-tuned control enables switching between different photon states.

Abstract

Conventional wisdom holds that quantum effects are fragile and can be destroyed by loss. Here, contrary to general belief, we show how to realize quantum revival of optical correlations at the single-photon level with the help of loss. We find that, accompanying loss-induced transparency of light in a nonlinear optical-molecule system, quantum suppression and revival of photonic correlations can be achieved. Specifically, below critical values, adding loss into the system leads to suppressions of both optical intensity and its non-classical correlations; however, by further increasing the loss beyond the critical values, quantum revival of photon blockade (PB) can emerge, resulting in loss-induced switch between single-PB and two-PB or super-Poissonian light. Our work provides a strategy to reverse the effect of loss in fully quantum regime, opening up a counterintuitive route to explore and utilize loss-tuned single-photon devices for quantum technology.