Our works on
single-photon manipulation of quantum light states chosen among the OSA “Best of
2009” in Optics and Photonics News
Arbitrary
superpositions of quantum operators demonstrated: first direct quantitative
test of quantum commutation rules
(December 2008 - October 2009)
We designed a scheme for conditionally generating arbitrary
coherent superpositions of quantum operators. The general scheme was later applied
to an experiment for implementing the commutator of the creation and
annihilation operators. We quantitatively verified the well-known commutation
rules in a direct experiment for the first time.
(Appeared in Physical Review Letters).
Our work
selected among the “BEST OF 2008” in New Journal of Physics
Experimentally
verified that coherent states are eigenstates of the photon annihilation
operator
(December 2008)
We implemented a reliable scheme for single photon subtraction and
tested its effects on paradigmatic light states: Fock, thermal, and coherent.
When applied to coherent states, the annihilation operator does not modify the
state itself.
(Appeared in New Journal of Physics).
Toward quantum
frequency combs:
Cavity-enhanced generation of highly-nonclassical states
(September 2008)
We use a pulsed pump enhancement cavity to produce
highly-nonclassical states of light at high repetition rates. The frequency
comb structure of the pump laser may be transferred to the produced quantum
light.
(Appeared in Physical Review A).
Valentina
Parigi wins the prize for the best poster presentation at the
Quantum &
Nonlinear Optics - Ph.D. Summer School
Backfallsbyn,
Hven, DK
(August 2008)
To the roots
of non-classicality:
First reconstruction of a non-classical Glauber-Sudarshan P-function
(August 2008)
We performed the first reconstruction of a non-classical P-function
for a photon-added thermal light state. This is the first demonstration of
non-classicality according to the original definition.
(Appeared in Physical Review A Rapid Communications.).
Simple quasi-phase-matching
in high-order harmonic generation
(July 2008)
We demonstrate a simple technique for enhancing harmonic
conversion yields by an array of gas interaction zones.
(Appeared in Physical Review A Rapid Communications).
Direct
experimental test of quantum non-commutativity by single photon creation and
annihilation
(
We have implemented simple sequences of photon addition and
subtraction to/from a light field. By verifying the difference in the final
states when using the two operators in reverse order, we provide the first
direct test of quantum commutation rules.
(See more in the
Quantum Optics section).
Link to Science paper: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/317/5846/1890
Link to Science comment paper by Boyd et al.: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/sci;317/5846/1874
Link to Nature News paper: http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070924/full/070924-10.html
Direct
interferometric measurement of atomic dipole phases in high-order harmonic
generation
(July 2006)
We
have used an interferometric technique to directly measure the intrinsic
nonlinear phase related to the different electronic trajectories involved in
high-order harmonic generation in the XUV. (See more in the HHG section)
Single-photon
remote temporal delocalization and violation of a
(January-October 2006)
We
have remotely delocalized a single photon onto two distinct and widely
separated temporal modes. The tomographic analysis of the two-mode homodyne
data has allowed us to prove (under some assumptions) the violation of a form
of Bell’s inequality. (See more in the Quantum Optics section)
The 2005 Nobel Prize
in Physics was awarded to Theodor W. Haensch
(October 5th, 2005 )
Prof.
Ted Haensch and Dr. Marco Bellini performed one of the key experiments leading
to the invention of the femtosecond frequency comb (and, later, to the Nobel
prize) in Florence. (See more in the section on the coherence properties of
supercontinuum)
First realization of
single-photon-added coherent states
(October 22nd, 2004 )
We
have generated and analyzed novel states of light that continuously change their
character from fully quantum to fully classical. (See the Quantum Optics
section)
Link to Science paper: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/306/5696/660