ITR: Twin Photons with Angular Momentum: Extending Entanglement for Quantum Information

Northwestern University, Evanston IL

Investigators

Abstract

Twin photons have provided quantum optics with one of its most powerful tools to explore phenomena such as particle entanglement and the idea of teleportation of information, with additional glimpses of possible applications to quantum computation. Addition of angular momentum (AM) entanglement to the conjugated photon system in the parametric down conversion (PDC) process could extend entanglement to an unprecedented degree. It is the aim of this work to extend the fundamental knowledge on twin photons with angular momentum, which is in its early stages, and to determine the possibility of applications of these new ideas to Quantum Information Science. The specific plans include the following. 1) A coincidence experiment to confirm the angular correlations of entangled photons with angular momentum that have been predicted theoretically will be performed. 2) A second coincidence experiment will be done as a test for a possible application in optical fibers. 3) Light states entangled both in angular momentum and polarization will be created by a combination of path indistinguishability to produce multi-entanglement between entangled polarization states and entangled angular momentum states. The experimental efforts will be accompanied by theoretical studies.