Performance of Photon-Pair Quantum Key Distribution Systems

We analyze the quantitative improvement in performance provided by a novel quantum key distribution (QKD) system that employs a correlated photon source (CPS) and a photon-number resolving detector (PNR). Our calculations suggest that given current technology, the CPR implementation offers an improvement of several orders of magnitude in secure bit rate over previously described implementations

Polarization-sensitive quantum-optical coherence tomography

We set forth a polarization-sensitive quantum-optical coherence tomography (PS-QOCT) technique that provides axial optical sectioning with polarization-sensitive capabilities. The technique provides a means for determining information about the optical path length between isotropic reflecting surfaces, the relative magnitude of the reflectance from each interface, the birefringence of the interstitial material, and the orientation of the optical axis of the sample. PS-QOCT is immune to sample dispersion and therefore permits measurements to be made at depths greater than those accessible via ordinary optical coherence tomography. We also provide a general Jones matrix theory for analyzing PS-QOCT systems and outline an experimental procedure for carrying out such measurements.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Physical Review

Diagnosis and outcome of oesophageal Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Crohn's disease (CD) can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract. We aimed to characterize clinical, endoscopic, histologic features and treatment outcomes of CD patients with oesophageal involvement. METHODS: We collected cases through a retrospective multicentre European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation CONFER [COllaborative Network For Exceptionally Rare case reports] project. Clinical data were recorded in a standardized case report form. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were reported [22 males, mean (±SD, range) age at oesophageal CD diagnosis: 25 (±13.3, 10-71) years and mean time of follow-up: 67 (±68.1, 3-240) months]. Oesophageal involvement was established at CD diagnosis in 26 patients (65%) and during follow-up in 14. CD was exclusively located in the oesophagus in 2 patients. Thirteen patients (32.2%) were asymptomatic at oesophageal disease diagnosis. Oesophageal strictures were present in 5 patients and fistulizing oesophageal disease in one. Eight patients exhibited granulomas on biopsies. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) were administered in 37 patients (92.5%). Three patients underwent endoscopic dilation for symptomatic strictures and none oesophageal-related surgery. Diagnosis in pre-established CD resulted in treatment modifications in 9/14 patients. Clinical remission of oesophageal disease was seen in 33/40 patients (82.5%) after a mean time of 7 (±5.6, 1-18) months. Follow-up endoscopy was performed in 29/40 patients and 26/29 (89.7%) achieved mucosal healing. CONCLUSION: In this case series the endoscopic and histologic characteristics of isolated oesophageal CD were similar to those reported in other sites of involvement. Treatment was primarily conservative, with PPIs administered in the majority of patients and modifications in pre-existing IBD-related therapy occurring in two thirds of them. Clinical and endoscopic remission was achieved in more than 80% of the patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Non-classical Photon Statistics For Two-mode Optical Fields

The non-classical property of subpoissonian photon statistics is extended from one to two-mode electromagnetic fields, incorporating the physically motivated property of invariance under passive unitary transformations. Applications to squeezed coherent states, squeezed thermal states, and superposition of coherent states are given. Dependences of extent of non-classical behaviour on the independent squeezing parameters are graphically displayed.Comment: 15 pages, RevTex, 5 figures, available by sending email to [email protected]

Doubly dressed bosons - exciton-polaritons in a strong terahertz field

We demonstrate the existence of a novel quasiparticle: an exciton in a semiconductor doubly dressed with two photons of different wavelengths: near infrared cavity photon and terahertz (THz) photon, with the THz coupling strength approaching the ultra-strong coupling regime. This quasiparticle is composed of three different bosons, being a mixture of a matter-light quasiparticle. Our observations are confirmed by a detailed theoretical analysis, treating quantum mechanically all three bosonic fields. The doubly dressed quasiparticles retain the bosonic nature of their constituents, but their internal quantum structure strongly depends on the intensity of the applied terahertz field.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Dynamics of a Quantum Control-Not Gate for an Ensemble of Four-Spin Molecules at Room Temperature

We investigate numerically a single-pulse implementation of a quantum Control-Not (CN) gate for an ensemble of Ising spin systems at room temperature. For an ensemble of four-spin ``molecules'' we simulate the time-evolution of the density matrix, for both digital and superpositional initial conditions. Our numerical calculations confirm the feasibility of implementation of quantum CN gate in this system at finite temperature, using electromagnetic $\pi$-pulse.Comment: 7 pages 3 figure

Quantum Phonon Optics: Coherent and Squeezed Atomic Displacements

In this paper we investigate coherent and squeezed quantum states of phonons. The latter allow the possibility of modulating the quantum fluctuations of atomic displacements below the zero-point quantum noise level of coherent states. The expectation values and quantum fluctuations of both the atomic displacement and the lattice amplitude operators are calculated in these states---in some cases analytically. We also study the possibility of squeezing quantum noise in the atomic displacement using a polariton-based approach.Comment: 6 pages, RevTe

Characterisations of Classical and Non-classical states of Quantised Radiation

A new operator based condition for distinguishing classical from non-classical states of quantised radiation is developed. It exploits the fact that the normal ordering rule of correspondence to go from classical to quantum dynamical variables does not in general maintain positivity. It is shown that the approach naturally leads to distinguishing several layers of increasing nonclassicality, with more layers as the number of modes increases. A generalisation of the notion of subpoissonian statistics for two-mode radiation fields is achieved by analysing completely all correlations and fluctuations in quadratic combinations of mode annihilation and creation operators conserving the total photon number. This generalisation is nontrivial and intrinsically two-mode as it goes beyond all possible single mode projections of the two-mode field. The nonclassicality of pair coherent states, squeezed vacuum and squeezed thermal states is analysed and contrasted with one another, comparing the generalised subpoissonian statistics with extant signatures of nonclassical behaviour.Comment: 16 pages, Revtex, One postscript Figure compressed and uuencoded Replaced, minor changes in eq 4.30 and 4.32. no effect on the result

Entangled-Photon Imaging of a Pure Phase Object

We demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that a coherent image of a pure phase object may be obtained by use of a spatially incoherent illumination beam. This is accomplished by employing a two-beam source of entangled photons generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion. Though each of the beams is, in and of itself, spatially incoherent, the pair of beams exhibits higher-order inter-beam coherence. One of the beams probes the phase object while the other is scanned. The image is recorded by measuring the photon coincidence rate using a photon-counting detector in each beam. Using a reflection configuration, we successfully imaged a phase object implemented by a MEMS micro-mirror array. The experimental results are in accord with theoretical predictions.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, submittedto Phys. Rev. Let