Abstract

We develop a fully vectorial and non-paraxial formalism to describe spontaneous parametric down-conversion in nonlinear thin films. The formalism is capable of treating slabs with a sub-wavelength thickness, describe the associated Fabry–Pérot effects, and even treat absorptive nonlinear materials. With this formalism, we perform an in-depth study of the dynamics of entangled photon-pair generation in nonlinear thin films, to provide a needed theoretical understanding for such systems that have recently attracted much experimental attention as sources of photon pairs. As an important example, we study the far-field radiation properties of photon pairs generated from a high-refractive-index nonlinear thin-film with zinc-blende structure that is deposited on a linear low-refractive-index substrate. In particular, we study the thickness-dependent effect of Fabry–Pérot interferences on the far-field radiation pattern of the photon pairs. We also pay special attention to study of entanglement generation, and find the conditions under which maximally polarization-entangled photon pairs can be generated and detected in such nonlinear thin-films.

Details

Title
Entangled photon-pair generation in nonlinear thin-films
Author
Santos, Elkin A 1 ; Weissflog, Maximilian A 2 ; Pertsch, Thomas 3 ; Setzpfandt, Frank 3 ; Saravi, Sina 1 

 Institute of Applied Physics, Abbe Center of Photonics, 9378Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 07745 Jena, Germany 
 Institute of Applied Physics, Abbe Center of Photonics, 9378Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 07745 Jena, Germany; Max Planck School of Photonics, Hans-Knöll-Straße 1, 07745 Jena, Germany 
 Institute of Applied Physics, Abbe Center of Photonics, 9378Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Albert-Einstein-Str. 15, 07745 Jena, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, Albert-Einstein-Str. 7, 07745 Jena, Germany 
Pages
3545-3561
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
ISSN
21928606
e-ISSN
21928614
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3095742102
Copyright
© 2024. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.