Non-cascade random walks in solid-state high harmonic generation

TL;DR

Researchers developed a new way to perform high-dimensional random walks using light's orbital angular momentum in a solid-state system, avoiding the need for cascaded setups.

Contribution

A non-cascade, high-dimensional random walk in the OAM space of light using solid-state high-harmonic spectroscopy is demonstrated.

Findings

Nonlinear crystal symmetry dictates the orbital angular momentum distribution of generated harmonics.

The approach enables ultrafast, high-dimensional random walks without cascaded implementations.

This method offers a compact and stable platform for photonic information processing.

Abstract

Random walks—both classical and quantum—unlocked new possibilities in search algorithms and information processing. Although linear photonic systems, with flexible tunability and multiple degrees of freedom, have served as efficient carriers for random walks, they typically require cascaded implementations, presenting a potential limitation on realizing integrated photonic circuits. In this work, we demonstrate a non-cascade, high-dimensional random walk in the orbital angular momentum (OAM) space of light using solid-state high-harmonic spectroscopy. The crystal nonlinearity enables the simultaneous conversion of multiple photons into a series of harmonics with distinct colors and whose OAM distributions are determined by the symmetry of the crystal. This approach reveals the dynamics of photonic degrees of freedom in high-harmonic generation can be naturally framed as an ultrafast, high-dimensional random walk, paving the way for compact, highly stable photonic platforms tailored for solid-state information processing.

Classical and quantum random walks are commonly based on cascaded geometries. Here, authors propose a solid-state, non-cascade platform for high-dimensional random walks, based on the harmonics generated by a nonlinear crystal and their orbital angular momentum distribution, dictated by the crystal’s symmetry

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