Enhanced generation of angle correlated photon-pairs in nonlinear metasurfaces. (1st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mazzanti, Andrea; Parry, Matthew; Poddubny, Alexander N; Della Valle, Giuseppe; Neshev, Dragomir N; Sukhorukov, Andrey A
• Is Part Of: New journal of physics. Volume 24:Number 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-01
• Subjects: nonlinear metasurface -- entangled photons -- quantum correlations -- bound state in the continuum -- spontaneous parametric downconversion; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics; Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/ac599e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-2630

Abstract

Abstract: We reveal that strongly enhanced generation of photon pairs with narrow frequency spectra and sharp angular correlations can be realised through spontaneous parametric down-conversion in metasurfaces. This is facilitated by creating meta-gratings through nano-structuring of nonlinear films of sub-wavelength thickness to support the extended bound state in the continuum resonances, associated with ultra-high Q -factors, at the biphoton wavelengths across a wide range of emission angles. Such spectral features of photons can be beneficial for various applications, including quantum imaging. Our modelling demonstrates a pronounced enhancement, compared to unpatterned films, of the total photon-pair generation rate normalized to the pump power reaching 1.75 kHz mW −1, which is robust with respect to the angular bandwidth of the pump, supporting the feasibility of future experimental realisations.