Quantum interference fringes beating the diffraction limit
Optics Express, Vol. 15, Issue 21, pp. 14244-14250 (2007)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.014244
Acrobat PDF (560 KB)
Abstract
Spatially formed two-photon interference fringes with fringe periods smaller than the diffraction limit are demonstrated. In the experiment, a fringe formed by two-photon NOON states with wavelength λ=702.2 nm is observed using a specially developed near-field scanning optical microscope probe and two-photon detection setup. The observed fringe period of 328.2 nm is well below the diffraction limit (351 nm = λ/2). Another experiment with a path-length difference larger than the coherent length of photons confirms that the observed fringe is due to two-photon interference.
© 2007 Optical Society of America
1. Introduction
N. Boto, P. Kok, D. S. Abrams, S. L. Braunstein, C. P. Williams, and J. P. Dowling, “Quantum interferometric optical lithography: exploiting entanglement to beat the diffraction limit,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2733–2736 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. B. Pittman, Y. H. Shih, A. V. Sergienko, and M. H. Rubin, “Experimental tests of Bell’s inequalities based on space-time and spin variables,” Phys. Rev. A 51, 3495 – 3498 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. J. S. Fonseca, C. H. Monken, and S. Páuda, “Measurement of the de Broglie wavelength of a multiphoton wave packet,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 2868–2871 (1999). [CrossRef]
M. D–Angelo, M. V. Chekhova, and Y. Shih , “Two-photon diffraction and quantum lithography,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 013602 (2001). [CrossRef]
Y. H. Kim, S. P. Kulik, and Y. Shih, “High-intensity pulsed source of space-time and polarization double-entangled photon pairs,” Phys. Rev. A 62, 011802 (2000). [CrossRef]
J. L. O’Brien, G. J. Pryde, A. G. White, T. C. Ralph, and D. Branning, “Demonstration of an all-optical quantum controlled-NOT gate,” Nature 426, 264–267 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
E. Betzig, J. K. Trautman, T. D. Harris, J. S. Weiner, and R. L. Kostelak, “Breaking the diffraction barrier: optical microscopy of a nanometric scale,” Science 251, 1468–1470 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
N. Boto, P. Kok, D. S. Abrams, S. L. Braunstein, C. P. Williams, and J. P. Dowling, “Quantum interferometric optical lithography: exploiting entanglement to beat the diffraction limit,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2733–2736 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
N. Boto, P. Kok, D. S. Abrams, S. L. Braunstein, C. P. Williams, and J. P. Dowling, “Quantum interferometric optical lithography: exploiting entanglement to beat the diffraction limit,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2733–2736 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Y. H. Zhai, X.-H. Chen, D. Zhang, and L.-A. Wu, “Two-photon interference with true thermal light,” Phys. Rev. A 72, 043805 (2005). [CrossRef]
J. Xiong, D. Z. Cao, F. Huang, H. G. Li, X. J. Sun, and K. Wang, “Experimental observation of classical subwavelength interference with a pseudothermal light source,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 173601 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. Experimental setup
E. Betzig, J. K. Trautman, T. D. Harris, J. S. Weiner, and R. L. Kostelak, “Breaking the diffraction barrier: optical microscopy of a nanometric scale,” Science 251, 1468–1470 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Y. H. Kim, S. P. Kulik, and Y. Shih, “High-intensity pulsed source of space-time and polarization double-entangled photon pairs,” Phys. Rev. A 62, 011802 (2000). [CrossRef]
J. L. O’Brien, G. J. Pryde, A. G. White, T. C. Ralph, and D. Branning, “Demonstration of an all-optical quantum controlled-NOT gate,” Nature 426, 264–267 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
C. K. Hong, Z. Y. Ou, and L. Mandel , “Measurement of subpicosecond time intervals between two photons by interference,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 2044~2046 (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
C. C. Gerry and R. A. Campos, “Generation of maximally entangled photonic states with a quantum-optical Fredkin gate,” Phys. Rev. A 64, 063814 (2001). [CrossRef]
3. Results and discussion
K. Edamatsu, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, “Measurement of the photonic de Broglie wavelength of entangled photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 213601 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
K. Edamatsu, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, “Measurement of the photonic de Broglie wavelength of entangled photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 213601 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. Conclusions
K. Edamatsu, G. Oohata, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, “Generation of ultraviolet entangled photons in a semiconductor,” Nature 431, 167–170 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
R. M. Stevenson, R. J. Young, P. Atkinson, K. Cooper, D. A. Ritchie, and A. J. Shields, “A semiconductor source of triggered entangled photon pairs,” Nature 439, 179–182 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
K.-S. Lee, D.-Y. Yang, S. H. Park, and R. H. Kim, “Recent developments in the use of two-photon polymerization in precise 2D and 3D microfabrications,” Polym. Adv. Technol. 17, 72–82 (2006). [CrossRef]
N. Boto, P. Kok, D. S. Abrams, S. L. Braunstein, C. P. Williams, and J. P. Dowling, “Quantum interferometric optical lithography: exploiting entanglement to beat the diffraction limit,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2733–2736 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Nagata, R. Okamoto, J. L. O’Brien, K. Sasaki, and S. Takeuchi, “Beating the standard quantum limit with four entangled photons,” Science 316, 726–729 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
K. Edamatsu, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, “Measurement of the photonic de Broglie wavelength of entangled photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 213601 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
P. Walther, J.-W. Pan, M. Aspelmeyer, R. Ursin, S. Gasparoni, and A. Zeilinger, “De Broglie wavelength of a non-local four-photon state,” Nature 429, 158–161 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Nagata, R. Okamoto, J. L. O’Brien, K. Sasaki, and S. Takeuchi, “Beating the standard quantum limit with four entangled photons,” Science 316, 726–729 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
Acknowledgements
References and links
L. Rayleigh, “Investigations in optics, with special reference to the spectroscope,” Phil. Mag. 8, 261 274 (1879). | |
N. Boto, P. Kok, D. S. Abrams, S. L. Braunstein, C. P. Williams, and J. P. Dowling, “Quantum interferometric optical lithography: exploiting entanglement to beat the diffraction limit,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2733–2736 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
P. Kok, A. N. Boto, D. S. Abrams, C. P. Williams, S. L. Braunstein, and J. P. Dowling, “Quantum-interferometric optical lithography: towards arbitrary two-dimensional patterns,” Phys Rev. A 63, 063407 (2001). [CrossRef] | |
G. Bjork and L. L. Sánchez-Soto, “Entangled-state Lithography: Tailoring any pattern with a single state,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4516–4519 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
E. J. S. Fonseca, C. H. Monken, and S. Páuda, “Measurement of the de Broglie wavelength of a multiphoton wave packet,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 2868–2871 (1999). [CrossRef] | |
M. D–Angelo, M. V. Chekhova, and Y. Shih , “Two-photon diffraction and quantum lithography,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 013602 (2001). [CrossRef] | |
T. B. Pittman, Y. H. Shih, A. V. Sergienko, and M. H. Rubin, “Experimental tests of Bell’s inequalities based on space-time and spin variables,” Phys. Rev. A 51, 3495 – 3498 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
T. Nagata, R. Okamoto, J. L. O’Brien, K. Sasaki, and S. Takeuchi, “Beating the standard quantum limit with four entangled photons,” Science 316, 726–729 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
K. Edamatsu, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, “Measurement of the photonic de Broglie wavelength of entangled photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 213601 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
Y. H. Kim, S. P. Kulik, and Y. Shih, “High-intensity pulsed source of space-time and polarization double-entangled photon pairs,” Phys. Rev. A 62, 011802 (2000). [CrossRef] | |
J. L. O’Brien, G. J. Pryde, A. G. White, T. C. Ralph, and D. Branning, “Demonstration of an all-optical quantum controlled-NOT gate,” Nature 426, 264–267 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
E. Betzig, J. K. Trautman, T. D. Harris, J. S. Weiner, and R. L. Kostelak, “Breaking the diffraction barrier: optical microscopy of a nanometric scale,” Science 251, 1468–1470 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
Y. H. Zhai, X.-H. Chen, D. Zhang, and L.-A. Wu, “Two-photon interference with true thermal light,” Phys. Rev. A 72, 043805 (2005). [CrossRef] | |
J. Xiong, D. Z. Cao, F. Huang, H. G. Li, X. J. Sun, and K. Wang, “Experimental observation of classical subwavelength interference with a pseudothermal light source,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 173601 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
C. K. Hong, Z. Y. Ou, and L. Mandel , “Measurement of subpicosecond time intervals between two photons by interference,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 2044~2046 (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
C. C. Gerry and R. A. Campos, “Generation of maximally entangled photonic states with a quantum-optical Fredkin gate,” Phys. Rev. A 64, 063814 (2001). [CrossRef] | |
K. Edamatsu, G. Oohata, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, “Generation of ultraviolet entangled photons in a semiconductor,” Nature 431, 167–170 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
R. M. Stevenson, R. J. Young, P. Atkinson, K. Cooper, D. A. Ritchie, and A. J. Shields, “A semiconductor source of triggered entangled photon pairs,” Nature 439, 179–182 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
K.-S. Lee, D.-Y. Yang, S. H. Park, and R. H. Kim, “Recent developments in the use of two-photon polymerization in precise 2D and 3D microfabrications,” Polym. Adv. Technol. 17, 72–82 (2006). [CrossRef] | |
P. Walther, J.-W. Pan, M. Aspelmeyer, R. Ursin, S. Gasparoni, and A. Zeilinger, “De Broglie wavelength of a non-local four-photon state,” Nature 429, 158–161 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed] |
OCIS Codes
(270.5290) Quantum optics : Photon statistics
(270.5585) Quantum optics : Quantum information and processing
ToC Category:
Quantum Optics
History
Original Manuscript: August 23, 2007
Revised Manuscript: October 11, 2007
Manuscript Accepted: October 11, 2007
Published: October 12, 2007
Virtual Issues
Vol. 2, Iss. 11 Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics
Citation
Yoshio Kawabe, Hideki Fujiwara, Ryo Okamoto, Keiji Sasaki, and Shigeki Takeuchi, "Quantum interference fringes beating the diffraction limit," Opt. Express 15, 14244-14250 (2007)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-15-21-14244
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References
- L. Rayleigh, "Investigations in optics, with special reference to the spectroscope," Phil. Mag. 8, 261-274 (1879).
- N. Boto, P. Kok, D. S. Abrams, S. L. Braunstein, C. P. Williams, and J. P. Dowling, "Quantum interferometric optical lithography: exploiting entanglement to beat the diffraction limit," Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 2733-2736 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- P. Kok, A. N. Boto, D. S. Abrams, C. P. Williams, S. L. Braunstein, and J. P. Dowling, "Quantum-interferometric optical lithography: towards arbitrary two-dimensional patterns," Phys Rev. A 63, 063407 (2001). [CrossRef]
- G. Bjork and L. L. Sánchez-Soto, "Entangled-state Lithography: Tailoring any pattern with a single state," Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 4516-4519 (2001). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- E. J. S. Fonseca, C. H. Monken, and S. Páuda, "Measurement of the de Broglie wavelength of a multiphoton wave packet," Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 2868-2871 (1999). [CrossRef]
- M. D’Angelo, M. V. Chekhova, and Y. Shih, "Two-photon diffraction and quantum lithography," Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 013602 (2001). [CrossRef]
- T. B. Pittman, Y. H. Shih, A. V. Sergienko, and M. H. Rubin, "Experimental tests of Bell’s inequalities based on space-time and spin variables," Phys. Rev. A 51, 3495 - 3498 (1995). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- T. Nagata, R. Okamoto, J. L. O’Brien, K. Sasaki, and S. Takeuchi, "Beating the standard quantum limit with four entangled photons," Science 316, 726-729 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- K. Edamatsu, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, "Measurement of the photonic de Broglie wavelength of entangled photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion," Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 213601 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Y. H. Kim, S. P. Kulik, and Y. Shih, "High-intensity pulsed source of space-time and polarization double-entangled photon pairs," Phys. Rev. A 62, 011802 (2000). [CrossRef]
- J. L. O’Brien, G. J. Pryde, A. G. White, T. C. Ralph, and D. Branning, "Demonstration of an all-optical quantum controlled-NOT gate," Nature 426, 264-267 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- E. Betzig, J. K. Trautman, T. D. Harris, J. S. Weiner, and R. L. Kostelak, "Breaking the diffraction barrier: optical microscopy of a nanometric scale," Science 251, 1468-1470 (1991). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Y. H. Zhai, X.-H. Chen, D. Zhang, L.-A. Wu, "Two-photon interference with true thermal light," Phys. Rev. A 72, 043805 (2005). [CrossRef]
- J. Xiong, D. Z. Cao, F. Huang, H. G. Li, X. J. Sun, and K. Wang, "Experimental observation of classical subwavelength interference with a pseudothermal light source," Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 173601 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- C. K. Hong, Z. Y. Ou, and L. Mandel, "Measurement of subpicosecond time intervals between two photons by interference," Phys. Rev. Lett. 59, 2044~2046 (1987). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- C. C. Gerry and R. A. Campos, "Generation of maximally entangled photonic states with a quantum-optical Fredkin gate," Phys. Rev. A 64, 063814 (2001). [CrossRef]
- K. Edamatsu, G. Oohata, R. Shimizu, and T. Itoh, "Generation of ultraviolet entangled photons in a semiconductor," Nature 431, 167-170 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- R. M. Stevenson, R. J. Young, P. Atkinson, K. Cooper, D. A. Ritchie, and A. J. Shields, "A semiconductor source of triggered entangled photon pairs," Nature 439, 179-182 (2006). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- K.-S. Lee, D.-Y. Yang, S. H. Park, and R. H. Kim, "Recent developments in the use of two-photon polymerization in precise 2D and 3D microfabrications," Polym. Adv. Technol. 17, 72-82 (2006). [CrossRef]
- P. Walther, J.-W. Pan, M. Aspelmeyer, R. Ursin, S. Gasparoni, and A. Zeilinger, "De Broglie wavelength of a non-local four-photon state," Nature 429, 158-161 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
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