We are currently investigating the
application of correlated photon techniques to the following problems:
Each of these techniques
uses the process of optical parametric down-conversion (PDC) to produce
correlated pairs of photons. This process employs a nonlinear medium
which allows photons from a pump beam to, in effect, decay into pairs
of photons under the restrictions of energy and momentum conservation.
Since the two "decay" photons are born at the same time, the detection
of one photon indicates with high certainty the existence of the other
photon of the pair. In addition, the conservation of energy and momentum
allow the wavelength and direction of one photon to be determined from
the other. (The photo above shows the broad spectral range of down-converted light
produced in the nonlinear
crystal.)
Longer range plans include arrangements to make the absolute
response/radiance methods continuously tunable, and to extend their spectral range as far into the
infrared as possible.
The links below provide more detailed information
and resources related to these project. For technical inquiries, please contact Alan
Migdall.
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Photo of Type I PDC in a KDP crystal
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