Light–matter interactions with photonic quasiparticles

Rivera, Nicholas; Kaminer, Ido

doi:10.1038/s42254-020-0224-2

Cited by 222 publications

(158 citation statements)

References 241 publications

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“…. Additional information is in (42). The system's evolution in time is given by the time evolution operator U(t).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We extend the QPINEM theory with density matrix formalism and present a robust scheme to handle multiple consecutive interactions of electrons with a common cavity mode. To precisely quantify the electron-photonic cavity interaction in an arbitrary electromagnetic environment, we develop the macroscopic quantum electrodynamic (41,42) framework for the QPINEM interaction with a single photonic mode. Last, we discuss the experimental feasibility and implementation challenges, which depend, among other things, on the difference between the cavity lifetime and the time between successive electron interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shaping quantum photonic states using free electrons

et al. 2021

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It is a long-standing goal to create light with unique quantum properties such as squeezing and entanglement. We propose the generation of quantum light using free-electron interactions, going beyond their already ubiquitous use in generating classical light. This concept is motivated by developments in electron microscopy, which recently demonstrated quantum free-electron interactions with light in photonic cavities. Such electron microscopes provide platforms for shaping quantum states of light through a judicious choice of the input light and electron states. Specifically, we show how electron energy combs implement photon displacement operations, creating displaced-Fock and displaced-squeezed states. We develop the theory for consecutive electron-cavity interactions with a common cavity and show how to generate any target Fock state. Looking forward, exploiting the degrees of freedom of electrons, light, and their interaction may achieve complete control over the quantum state of the generated light, leading to novel light statistics and correlations.

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“…. Additional information is in (42). The system's evolution in time is given by the time evolution operator U(t).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shaping quantum photonic states using free electrons

et al. 2021

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“…Furthermore, our results may readily be generalized to other physical mechanisms of wave emission, for example, analogs of the Cherenkov effect ( 72 , 73 ), as in Bose-Einstein condensates. Similar effects can be explored with any photonic quasiparticle ( 74 ), and even with sound waves, and phonon waves in solids ( 75 ), which all have the same underlying quantum nature and must have exact analogous phenomena.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The coherence of light is fundamentally tied to the quantum coherence of the emitting particle

et al. 2021

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Coherent emission of light by free charged particles is believed to be successfully captured by classical electromagnetism in all experimental settings. However, recent advances triggered fundamental questions regarding the role of the particle wave function in these processes. Here, we find that even in seemingly classical experimental regimes, light emission is fundamentally tied to the quantum coherence and correlations of the emitting particle. We use quantum electrodynamics to show how the particle’s momentum uncertainty determines the optical coherence of the emitted light. We find that the temporal duration of Cherenkov radiation, envisioned for almost a century as a shock wave of light, is limited by underlying entanglement between the particle and light. Our findings enable new capabilities in electron microscopy for measuring quantum correlations of shaped electrons. Last, we propose new Cherenkov detection schemes, whereby measuring spectral photon autocorrelations can unveil the wave function structure of any charged high-energy particle.

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“…Over the past decade, research on propagating optical polaritons in 2D materials progressed from a promising concept (1, 2) to a platform for demonstrating rich physical phenomena (3)(4)(5)(6)(7), now showing an impact on emerging opto-electronics (8,9) and nanophotonic technologies (10). These polaritons exhibit relatively low loss and long propagation distances, simultaneous with extreme confinement factors (5,(11)(12)(13)(14), facilitating their unique light-matter interactions (2,3,(15)(16)(17)(18)(19).…”

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confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal imaging of 2D polariton wave packet dynamics using free electrons

Kurman

Dahan

Sheinfux

et al. 2021

Science

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Coherent optical excitations in two-dimensional (2D) materials, 2D polaritons, can generate a plethora of optical phenomena that arise from the extraordinary dispersion relations that do not exist in regular materials. Probing of the dynamical phenomena of 2D polaritons requires simultaneous spatial and temporal imaging capabilities and could reveal unknown coherent optical phenomena in 2D materials. Here, we present a spatiotemporal measurement of 2D wave packet dynamics, from its formation to its decay, using an ultrafast transmission electron microscope driven by femtosecond midinfrared pulses. The ability to coherently excite phonon-polariton wave packets and probe their evolution in a nondestructive manner reveals intriguing dispersion-dependent dynamics that includes splitting of multibranch wave packets and, unexpectedly, wave packet deceleration and acceleration. Having access to the full spatiotemporal dynamics of 2D wave packets can be used to illuminate puzzles in topological polaritons and discover exotic nonlinear optical phenomena in 2D materials.

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Light–matter interactions with photonic quasiparticles

Cited by 222 publications

References 241 publications

Shaping quantum photonic states using free electrons

Shaping quantum photonic states using free electrons

The coherence of light is fundamentally tied to the quantum coherence of the emitting particle

Spatiotemporal imaging of 2D polariton wave packet dynamics using free electrons

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