Ultrafast optical control by few photons in engineered fiber

Fast control of a strong optical beam by a few photons is an outstanding challenge that limits the performance of quantum sensors and optical processing devices. We report that a fast and efficient optical gate can be realized in an optical fiber that has been engineered with molecular-scale accurac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2014-07, Vol.345 (6195), p.417-419
Main Authors: Nissim, R., Pejkic, A., Myslivets, E., Kuo, B. P., Alic, N., Radic, S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atoms & subatomic particles
Backbone
Fiber optic communications
Fibers
Globes
Lead
Optical control
Optical engineering
Optical fibers
Phase matching
Photon beams
Photonics
Photons
Pumps
Quantum efficiency
Signal bandwidth
Splicing
Waveguides
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Summary:Fast control of a strong optical beam by a few photons is an outstanding challenge that limits the performance of quantum sensors and optical processing devices. We report that a fast and efficient optical gate can be realized in an optical fiber that has been engineered with molecular-scale accuracy. Highly efficient, distributed phase-matched photon-photon interaction was achieved in the fiber with locally controlled, nanometer-scale core variations. A three-photon input was used to manipulate a Watt-scale beam at a speed exceeding 500 gigahertz. In addition to very fast beam control, the results provide a path to developing a new class of sensitive receivers capable of operating at very high rates.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1253125