Mode-selective single-photon addition to a multimode quantum field

Abstract

Spectro-temporal modes of light can be exploited for the generation of high-dimensional Gaussian quantum states. Such states are at the basis of continuous variable quantum information protocols where they have to support mode-selective non-Gaussian operations. We develop a general framework for single-photon addition on multimode states of light via parametric down conversion (PDC) processes. We identify the analytical conditions for single-mode and mode-selective photon addition. We show that spectral mode selectivity can be achieved in the type-II collinear down conversion, while single-mode condition are retrieved for noncollinear type-I and type-II processes. Numerical results are shown for photon addition in PDC process at near-infrared and telecommunications wavelengths.