Paterova Anna V, Krivitsky Leonid A
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science Technology and Research (ASTAR), 138634 Singapore, Singapore.
Light Sci Appl. 2020 May 9;9:82. doi: 10.1038/s41377-020-0320-1. eCollection 2020.
Nonlinear interferometers with correlated photons hold promise to advance optical characterization and metrology techniques by improving their performance and affordability. These interferometers offer subshot noise phase sensitivity and enable measurements in detection-challenging regions using inexpensive and efficient components. The sensitivity of nonlinear interferometers, defined by the ability to measure small shifts of interference fringes, can be significantly enhanced by using multiple nonlinear elements, or crystal superlattices. However, to date, experiments with more than two nonlinear elements have not been realized, thus hindering the potential of nonlinear interferometers. Here, we build a nonlinear interferometer with up to five nonlinear elements, referred to as superlattices, in a highly stable and versatile configuration. We study the modification of the interference pattern for different configurations of the superlattices and perform a proof-of-concept gas sensing experiment with enhanced sensitivity. Our approach offers a viable path towards broader adoption of nonlinear interferometers with correlated photons for imaging, interferometry, and spectroscopy.
具有关联光子的非线性干涉仪有望通过提高其性能和可承受性来推动光学表征和计量技术的发展。这些干涉仪具有亚散粒噪声相位灵敏度，并能够使用廉价且高效的组件在检测具有挑战性的区域进行测量。非线性干涉仪的灵敏度由测量干涉条纹微小位移的能力定义，通过使用多个非线性元件或晶体超晶格可以显著提高。然而，迄今为止，尚未实现使用超过两个非线性元件的实验，从而阻碍了非线性干涉仪的潜力。在此，我们构建了一种具有多达五个非线性元件（称为超晶格）的非线性干涉仪，其配置高度稳定且通用。我们研究了超晶格不同配置下干涉图样的变化，并进行了具有增强灵敏度的概念验证气体传感实验。我们的方法为更广泛地采用具有关联光子的非线性干涉仪用于成像、干涉测量和光谱学提供了一条可行的途径。
