A quantum optical valve in a nonlinear-linear resonators junction

Eduardo Mascarenhas , Dario Gerace (1) , Daniel Valente (2) , Simone Montangero , Alexia Auffèves (3) , M. Franca Santos

1 CNISM and Dipartimento di Fisica 'A. Volta'
2 Universidade de Mato Grosso
3 NEEL - NPSC - Nanophysique et Semiconducteurs

Electronic diodes, which enable the rectification of an electrical energy flux, have played a crucial role in the development of current microelectronics after the invention of semiconductor p-n junctions. Analogously, signal rectification at specific target wavelengths has recently become a key goal in optical communication and signal processing. Here we propose a genuinely quantum device with the essential rectifying features being demonstrated in a general model of a nonlinear-linear junction of coupled resonators. It is shown that such a surprisingly simple structure is a versatile valve and may be alternatively tuned to behave as: a photonic diode, a single- or two-photon rectified source turning a classical input into a quantum output depending on the input frequency, or a quantum photonic splitter. Given the relevance of non-reciprocal operations in integrated circuits, the nonlinear-linear junction realizes a crucial building component in prospective quantum photonic applications.

Domaines: Physique Quantique [quant-ph]

Eduardo Mascarenhas, Dario Gerace, Daniel Valente, Simone Montangero, Alexia Auffèves, et al.. A quantum optical valve in a nonlinear-linear resonators junction. EPL - Europhysics Letters, 2014, 106 (5), pp.54003. ⟨10.1209/0295-5075/106/54003⟩. ⟨hal-01006882⟩