Optics and Laser Physics Research at Ames Quantum Lab
Quantum states of light are finding increasing utility for a number of applications, including the implementation of provably secure communications (quantum key distribution), high resolution sensing and imaging, quantum information processing and computing, random number generation, along with playing a role in tests of fundamental physical principles (tests of nonlocality). While there have been numerous laboratory demonstrations of the advantages inherent in using quantum optic sources, there has been a significant lack of practical application of these types of sources. Currently, even the first commercialized quantum application, single-photon quantum key distribution, utilizes sources (severely attenuated lasers) that only approximate a true single-photon quantum source. This is a direct result of the difficulties inherent in creating a practical source of quantum optical states. The ability to simply generate quantum optical states with high efficiency, such as entangled photon pairs, should allow an advancement of quantum optical science and technology.
The conventional way to generate quantum optical states of entangled photons (based on spontaneous parametric downconversion in nonlinear optical crystals) is extremely inefficient, bulky, and complicated. While recent improvements in efficiency and complexity have been made using periodically-poled crystals, the resulting devices are still largely composed of bulk optical components. Part of our effort is focused on studying methods to create high performance quantum optical sources. A further emphasis of this work is to study and develop a variety of quantum sources suitable for use in a number of applications that leverages NASA Ames unique capabilities.
