Theory of four wave mixing-based parametric amplification of spin-orbit modes.

We study the generation of spin-orbit (SO) modes via four-wave mixing (FWM)-based parametric amplification. SO modes carry quantized total angular momentum (TAM), and we show that FWM processes that generate new signals conserve TAM. This is a generalization of prior research which operated in a regime where FWM processes conserved spin and orbital angular momenta independently. We calculate the growth rates of new modes for both degenerate and nondegenerate pump configurations. Our theory is validated against numerical simulations for the cases where the generated signals are in the same SO mode(s) as the pump(s). We also calculate the growth rates of signals in SO modes other than the pumps.

Non-local polarization alignment and control in fibers using feedback from correlated measurements of entangled photons.

Quantum measurements that use the entangled photons' polarization to encode quantum information require calibration and alignment of the measurement bases between spatially separate observers. Because of the changing birefringence in optical fibers arising from temperature fluctuations or external mechanical vibrations, the polarization state at the end of a fiber channel is unpredictable and time-varying. Polarization tracking and stabilization methods originally developed for classical optical communications cannot be applied to polarization-entangled photons, where the separately detected photons are statistically unpolarized, yet quantum mechanically correlated. We report here a fast method for automatic alignment and dynamic tracking of the polarization measurement bases between spatially separated detectors. The system uses the Nelder-Mead simplex method to minimize the observed coincidence rate between non-locally measured entangled photon pairs, without relying on classical wavelength-multiplexed pilot tones or temporally interleaved polarized photons. Alignment and control is demonstrated in a 7.1 km deployed fiber loop as well as in a controlled drifting scenario.

Nonlinear rotation of spin-orbit coupled states in hollow ring-core fibers.

We experimentally demonstrate that when two spin-orbit coupled orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes of opposite topological charge co-propagate in the Kerr nonlinear regime in a hollow ring-core optical fiber, the vectorial mode superposition exhibits a unique power-dependent rotation effect. This effect is analogous to nonlinear polarization rotation in single-mode fibers, however, the added spatial dimension produces a visually observable rotation of the spatial pattern emerging from the fiber when imaged through a linear polarizer. A dielectric metasurface q-plate was designed and fabricated to excite the desired mode combination in a hollow ring-core fiber that supports stable propagation of OAM modes. The observed spatial patterns show strong agreement with numerical simulations of the vector coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. These results constitute the first measurements of what can be described as the spin-orbit coupled generalization of the nonlinear polarization rotation effect.

Dark current and single photon detection by 1550 nm avalanche photodiodes: dead time corrected probability distributions and entropy rates.

Single photon detectors have dark count rates that depend strongly on the bias level for detector operation. In the case of weak light sources such as novel lasers or single-photon emitters, the rate of counts due to the light source can be comparable to that of the detector dark counts. In such cases, a characterization of the statistical properties of the dark counts is necessary. The dark counts are often assumed to follow a Poisson process that is statistically independent of the incident photon counts. This assumption must be validated for specific types of photodetectors. In this work, we focus on single-photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs) made for 1550 nm. For the InGaAs detectors used, we find the measured distributions often differ significantly from Poisson due to the presence of dead time and afterpulsing with the difference increasing with the bias level used for obtaining higher quantum efficiencies. We find that when the dead time is increased to remove the effects of afterpulsing, it is necessary to correct the measured distributions for the effects of the dead time. To this end, we apply an iterative algorithm to remove dead time effects from the probability distribution for dark counts as well as for the case where light from an external weak laser source (known to be Poisson) is detected together with the dark counts. We believe this to be the first instance of the comprehensive application of this algorithm to real data and find that the dead time corrected probability distributions are Poisson distributions in both cases. We additionally use the Grassberger-Procaccia algorithm to estimate the entropy production rates of the dark count processes, which provides a single metric that characterizes the temporal correlations between dark counts as well as the shape of the distribution. We have thus developed a systematic procedure for taking data with 1550 nm SPADs and obtaining accurate photocount statistics to examine novel light sources.

Low-loss and ultra-broadband silicon nitride angled MMI polarization splitter/combiner.

The property of self-imaging combined with the polarization birefringence of the angled multimode waveguide is used to design a silicon nitride (SiN) polarization splitter (PS) at λ ∼ 1550 nm. The demonstrated PS on a 450 nm thick SiN device layer (with 2.5 µm cladding oxide) has a footprint of 80 µm×13 µm and exhibits nearly wavelength independent performance over the C+L bands. Also, the device can be configured as a polarization combiner (PC) in reverse direction with similar bandwidth and performance. The measured crosstalk (CT) and insertion loss (IL) are respectively <-18 dB (<-20 dB) and ∼0.7 dB (∼0.8 dB) for TE (TM) polarization over the measurement wavelength range of 1525 nm ≤λ ≤ 1625 nm. The measured device parameter variations suggest some tolerance to fabrication variations. Such a device is a good candidate for a photonics integrated chip (PIC) foundry-compatible, SiN PS.

Control of hot-carrier relaxation time in Au-Ag thin films through alloying.

The plasmon resonance of a structure is primarily dictated by its optical properties and geometry, which can be modified to enable hot-carrier photodetectors with superior performance. Recently, metal alloys have played a prominent role in tuning the resonance of plasmonic structures through chemical composition engineering. However, it has been unclear how alloying modifies the time dynamics of the generated hot-carriers. In this work, we elucidate the role of chemical composition on the relaxation time of hot-carriers for the archetypal AuxAg1-x thin film system. Through time-resolved optical spectroscopy measurements in the visible wavelength range, we measure composition-dependent relaxation times that vary up to 8× for constant pump fluency. Surprisingly, we find that the addition of 2% of Ag into Au films can increase the hot-carrier lifetime by approximately 35% under fixed fluence, as a result of a decrease in optical loss. Further, the relaxation time is found to be inversely proportional to the imaginary part of the permittivity. Our results indicate that alloying is a promising approach to effectively control hot-carrier relaxation time in metals.

Plasmonic nanoarcs: a versatile platform with tunable localized surface plasmon resonances in octave intervals.

The tunability of the longitudinal localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of metallic nanoarcs is demonstrated with key relationships identified between geometric parameters of the arcs and their resonances in the infrared. The wavelength of the LSPRs is tuned by the mid-arc length of the nanoarc. The ratio between the attenuation of the fundamental and second order LSPRs is governed by the nanoarc central angle. Beneficial for plasmonic enhancement of harmonic generation, these two resonances can be tuned independently to obtain octave intervals through the design of a non-uniform arc-width profile. Because the character of the fundamental LSPR mode in nanoarcs combines an electric and a magnetic dipole, plasmonic nanoarcs with tunable resonances can serve as versatile building blocks for chiroptical and nonlinear optical devices.

Wideband microwave electro-optic image rejection mixer.

We present an electro-optic downconverting mixer with image rejection capabilities. By using a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (DD-MZM) to modulate an optical carrier with both a signal and a local oscillator, and an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer (AMZI) to filter the optical spectrum into two separate ports, we generate photocurrents with a phase relationship controlled via direct current (DC) bias voltage applied to the DD-MZM. By choosing these photocurrents to be in quadrature and combining them in a 90-degree electrical hybrid we achieve over 40 dB of image rejection, with a 3 dB bandwidth of approximately 20 GHz limited mainly by the AMZI free spectral range. We demonstrate downconversion of a 1 Gbaud quadrature phase-shift keyed (QPSK) signal even in the presence of a strong interfering image tone.

Synthetic Gauge Field for Two-Dimensional Time-Multiplexed Quantum Random Walks.

Temporal multiplexing provides an efficient and scalable approach to realize a quantum random walk with photons that can exhibit topological properties. But two-dimensional time-multiplexed topological quantum walks studied so far have relied on generalizations of the Su-Shreiffer-Heeger model with no synthetic gauge field. In this work, we demonstrate a two-dimensional topological quantum random walk where the nontrivial topology is due to the presence of a synthetic gauge field. We show that the synthetic gauge field leads to the appearance of multiple band gaps and, consequently, a spatial confinement of the quantum walk distribution. Moreover, we demonstrate topological edge states at an interface between domains with opposite synthetic fields. Our results expand the range of Hamiltonians that can be simulated using photonic quantum walks.

Delayed dynamical systems: networks, chimeras and reservoir computing.

We present a systematic approach to reveal the correspondence between time delay dynamics and networks of coupled oscillators. After early demonstrations of the usefulness of spatio-temporal representations of time-delay system dynamics, extensive research on optoelectronic feedback loops has revealed their immense potential for realizing complex system dynamics such as chimeras in rings of coupled oscillators and applications to reservoir computing. Delayed dynamical systems have been enriched in recent years through the application of digital signal processing techniques. Very recently, we have showed that one can significantly extend the capabilities and implement networks with arbitrary topologies through the use of field programmable gate arrays. This architecture allows the design of appropriate filters and multiple time delays, and greatly extends the possibilities for exploring synchronization patterns in arbitrary network topologies. This has enabled us to explore complex dynamics on networks with nodes that can be perfectly identical, introduce parameter heterogeneities and multiple time delays, as well as change network topologies to control the formation and evolution of patterns of synchrony. This article is part of the theme issue 'Nonlinear dynamics of delay systems'.

Optical Gating of Black Phosphorus for Terahertz Detection.

Photoconductive antennas are widely used for time-resolved detection of terahertz (THz) pulses. In contrast to photothermoelectric or bolometric THz detection, the coherent detection allows direct measurement of the electric field transient of a THz pulse, which contains both spectral and phase information. In this Letter, we demonstrate for the first time photoconductive detection of free-space propagating THz radiation with thin flakes of a van der Waals material. Mechanically exfoliated flakes of black phosphorus are combined with an antenna that concentrates the THz fields to the small flake (∼10 µm). Similar performance is reached at gating wavelengths of 800 and 1550 nm, which suggests that the narrow bandgap of black phosphorus could allow operation at wavelengths as long as 4 µm. The detected spectrum peaks at 60 GHz, where the signal-to-noise ratio is of the order of 40 dB, and the detectable signal extends to 0.2 THz. The measured signal strongly depends on the polarization of the THz field and the gating pulse, which is explained by the role of the antenna and the anisotropy of the black phosphorus flake, respectively. We analyze the limitations of the device and show potential improvements that could significantly increase the efficiency and bandwidth.

Terahertz photoresponse of black phosphorus.

Two-dimensional black phosphorus is a new material that has gained widespread interest as an active material for optoelectronic applications. It features high carrier mobility that allows for efficient free-carrier absorption of terahertz radiation, even though the photon energy is far below the bandgap energy. Here we present an efficient and ultrafast terahertz detector, based on exfoliated multilayer flakes of black phosphorus. The device responsivity is about 1 mV/W for a 2.5 THz beam with a diameter of 200 µm, and is primarily limited by the small active area of the device in comparison to the incident beam area. The intrinsic responsivity is determined by Joule heating experiments to be about 44 V/W, which is in agreement with predictions from the Drude conductivity model. Time resolved measurements at a frequency of 0.5 THz reveal an ultrafast response time of 20 ps, making black phosphorus a candidate for high performance THz detection at room temperature.

Experiments with arbitrary networks in time-multiplexed delay systems.

We report a new experimental approach using an optoelectronic feedback loop to investigate the dynamics of oscillators coupled on large complex networks with arbitrary topology. Our implementation is based on a single optoelectronic feedback loop with time delays. We use the space-time interpretation of systems with time delay to create large networks of coupled maps. Others have performed similar experiments using high-pass filters to implement the coupling; this restricts the network topology to the coupling of only a few nearest neighbors. In our experiment, the time delays and coupling are implemented on a field-programmable gate array, allowing the creation of networks with arbitrary coupling topology. This system has many advantages: the network nodes are truly identical, the network is easily reconfigurable, and the network dynamics occur at high speeds. We use this system to study cluster synchronization and chimera states in both small and large networks of different topologies.

Nonlinear Terahertz Absorption of Graphene Plasmons.

Subwavelength graphene structures support localized plasmonic resonances in the terahertz and mid-infrared spectral regimes. The strong field confinement at the resonant frequency is predicted to significantly enhance the light-graphene interaction, which could enable nonlinear optics at low intensity in atomically thin, subwavelength devices. To date, the nonlinear response of graphene plasmons and their energy loss dynamics have not been experimentally studied. We measure and theoretically model the terahertz nonlinear response and energy relaxation dynamics of plasmons in graphene nanoribbons. We employ a terahertz pump-terahertz probe technique at the plasmon frequency and observe a strong saturation of plasmon absorption followed by a 10 ps relaxation time. The observed nonlinearity is enhanced by 2 orders of magnitude compared to unpatterned graphene with no plasmon resonance. We further present a thermal model for the nonlinear plasmonic absorption that supports the experimental results. The model shows that the observed strong linearity is caused by an unexpected red shift of plasmon resonance together with a broadening and weakening of the resonance caused by the transient increase in electron temperature. The model further predicts that even greater resonant enhancement of the nonlinear response can be expected in high-mobility graphene, suggesting that nonlinear graphene plasmonic devices could be promising candidates for nonlinear optical processing.

Tunable Ultrafast Thermal Relaxation in Graphene Measured by Continuous-Wave Photomixing.

Hot electron effects in graphene are significant because of graphene's small electronic heat capacity and weak electron-phonon coupling, yet the dynamics and cooling mechanisms of hot electrons in graphene are not completely understood. We describe a novel photocurrent spectroscopy method that uses the mixing of continuous-wave lasers in a graphene photothermal detector to measure the frequency dependence and nonlinearity of hot-electron cooling in graphene as a function of the carrier concentration and temperature. The method offers unparalleled sensitivity to the nonlinearity, and probes the ultrafast cooling of hot carriers with an optical fluence that is orders of magnitude smaller than in conventional time-domain methods, allowing for accurate characterization of electron-phonon cooling near charge neutrality. Our measurements reveal that near the charge neutral point the nonlinear power dependence of the electron cooling is dominated by disorder-assisted collisions, while at higher carrier concentrations conventional momentum-conserving cooling prevails in the nonlinear dependence. The relative contribution of these competing mechanisms can be electrostatically tuned through the application of a gate voltage-an effect that is unique to graphene.

Experimental observation of chimera and cluster states in a minimal globally coupled network.

A "chimera state" is a dynamical pattern that occurs in a network of coupled identical oscillators when the symmetry of the oscillator population is broken into synchronous and asynchronous parts. We report the experimental observation of chimera and cluster states in a network of four globally coupled chaotic opto-electronic oscillators. This is the minimal network that can support chimera states, and our study provides new insight into the fundamental mechanisms underlying their formation. We use a unified approach to determine the stability of all the observed partially synchronous patterns, highlighting the close relationship between chimera and cluster states as belonging to the broader phenomenon of partial synchronization. Our approach is general in terms of network size and connectivity. We also find that chimera states often appear in regions of multistability between global, cluster, and desynchronized states.

Plasmon-Enhanced Terahertz Photodetection in Graphene.

We report a large area terahertz detector utilizing a tunable plasmonic resonance in subwavelength graphene microribbons on SiC(0001) to increase the absorption efficiency. By tailoring the orientation of the graphene ribbons with respect to an array of subwavelength bimetallic electrodes, we achieve a condition in which the plasmonic mode can be efficiently excited by an incident wave polarized perpendicular to the electrode array, while the resulting photothermal voltage can be observed between the outermost electrodes.

Tunable Terahertz Hybrid Metal-Graphene Plasmons.

We report here a new type of plasmon resonance that occurs when graphene is connected to a metal. These new plasmon modes offer the potential to incorporate a tunable plasmonic channel into a device with electrical contacts, a critical step toward practical graphene terahertz optoelectronics. Through theory and experiments, we demonstrate, for example, anomalously high resonant absorption or transmission when subwavelength graphene-filled apertures are introduced into an otherwise conductive layer. These tunable plasmon resonances are essential yet missing ingredients needed for terahertz filters, oscillators, detectors, and modulators.

Universal ultrafast detector for short optical pulses based on graphene.

Graphene has unique optical and electronic properties that make it attractive as an active material for broadband ultrafast detection. We present here a graphene-based detector that shows 40-picosecond electrical rise time over a spectral range that spans nearly three orders of magnitude, from the visible to the far-infrared. The detector employs a large area graphene active region with interdigitated electrodes that are connected to a log-periodic antenna to improve the long-wavelength collection efficiency, and a silicon carbide substrate that is transparent throughout the visible regime. The detector exhibits a noise-equivalent power of approximately 100 µW·Hz(-½) and is characterized at wavelengths from 780 nm to 500 µm.

Electro-optic millimeter-wave harmonic downconversion and vector demodulation using cascaded phase modulation and optical filtering.

We describe and demonstrate an electro-optic technique to simultaneously downconvert and demodulate vector-modulated millimeter-wave signals. The system uses electro-optic phase modulation and optical filtering to perform harmonic downconversion of the RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) or to baseband. We demonstrate downconversion of RF signals between 7 and 70-GHz to IFs below 20-GHz. Furthermore, we show harmonic downconversion and vector demodulation of 2.5-Gb/s QPSK and 5-Gb/s 16-QAM signals at carrier frequencies of 40-GHz to baseband.