Light–matter interactions with photonic quasiparticles

Nature Reviews Physics, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 2(10), P. 538 - 561

Published: Sept. 23, 2020

Language: Английский

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Resonant phase-matching between a light wave and a free-electron wavefunction

Nature Physics, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 16(11), P. 1123 - 1131

Published: Oct. 12, 2020

Language: Английский

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Optical Excitations with Electron Beams: Challenges and Opportunities

ACS Photonics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 8(4), P. 945 - 974

Published: March 25, 2021

Free electron beams such as those employed in microscopes have evolved into powerful tools to investigate photonic nanostructures with an unrivaled combination of spatial and spectral precision through the analysis energy losses cathodoluminescence light emission. In ultrafast optics, emerging field microscopy utilizes synchronized femtosecond pulses that are aimed at sampled structures, holding promise bring simultaneous sub-Å-sub-fs-sub-meV space-time-energy resolution study material optical-field dynamics. addition, these advances enable manipulation wave function individual free electrons unprecedented ways, opening sound prospects probe control quantum excitations nanoscale. Here, we provide overview photonics research based on electrons, supplemented by original theoretical insights discussion several stimulating challenges opportunities. particular, show excitation probability a single is independent its function, apart from classical average over transverse beam density profile, whereas for two or more modulated depends their relative arrangement, thus reflecting nature interactions. We derive first-principles analytical expressions embody results general validity arbitrarily shaped any type electron-sample interaction. conclude some perspectives various exciting directions include disruptive approaches noninvasive spectroscopy microscopy, possibility sampling nonlinear optical response nanoscale, matrices associated sample modes, appealing applications modulation beams, all which could potentially revolutionize use photonics.

Language: Английский

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Imprinting the quantum statistics of photons on free electrons

Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 373(6561)

Published: Aug. 26, 2021

The fundamental interaction between free electrons and light stands at the base of both classical quantum physics, with applications in free-electron acceleration, radiation sources, electron microscopy. Yet, to this day, all experiments involving interactions are fully explained by describing as a wave, disregarding its nature. Here, we observe statistics effects photons on free-electron-light interactions. We demonstrate passing continuously from Poissonian super-Poissonian up thermal statistics, unveiling surprising manifestation Bohr's Correspondence Principle: transition walk random energy ladder. walker serves probe non-destructive detection, measuring photon-correlation ${g^{(2)} (0)}$ higher-orders ${g^{(n)} (0)}$. Unlike conventional quantum-optical detectors, can perform weak measurements projective evolving into an entangled joint-state photons. Our findings suggest free-electron-based tomography light, constitute important step towards combined attosecond-temporal sub-A-spatial resolution

Language: Английский

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Integrated photonics enables continuous-beam electron phase modulation

Nature, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 600(7890), P. 653 - 658

Published: Dec. 22, 2021

Abstract Integrated photonics facilitates extensive control over fundamental light–matter interactions in manifold quantum systems including atoms 1 , trapped ions 2,3 dots 4 and defect centres 5 . Ultrafast electron microscopy has recently made free-electron beams the subject of laser-based manipulation characterization 6–11 enabling observation walks 12–14 attosecond pulses 10,15–17 holographic electromagnetic imaging 18 Chip-based 19,20 promises unique applications nanoscale sensing but remains to be realized microscopy. Here we merge integrated with microscopy, demonstrating coherent phase modulation a continuous beam using silicon nitride microresonator. The high-finesse ( Q 0 ≈ 10 6 ) cavity enhancement waveguide designed for matching lead efficient electron–light scattering at extremely low, continuous-wave optical powers. Specifically, fully deplete initial state cavity-coupled power only 5.35 microwatts generate >500 energy sidebands several milliwatts. Moreover, probe unidirectional intracavity fields microelectronvolt resolution electron-energy-gain spectroscopy 21 fibre-coupled photonic structures feature single-optical-mode interaction full input output light. This approach establishes versatile highly framework enhanced context laser plates 22 modulators pulse trains 23 resonantly 24–26 dielectric acceleration 19,20,27 Our work introduces universal platform exploring optics 28–31 potential future developments strong coupling, local probing electron–photon entanglement.

Language: Английский

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Cavity-mediated electron-photon pairs

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(6607), P. 777 - 780

Published: Aug. 11, 2022

Advancing quantum information, communication and sensing relies on the generation control of correlations in complementary degrees freedom. Here, we demonstrate preparation electron-photon pair states using phase-matched interaction free electrons with evanescent vacuum field a photonic-chip-based optical microresonator. Spontaneous inelastic scattering produces intracavity photons coincident energy-shifted electrons. Harnessing these pairs for correlation-enhanced imaging, achieve two-orders magnitude contrast improvement cavity-mode mapping by coincidence-gated electron spectroscopy. This parametric pair-state will underpin future development free-electron optics, providing pathway to quantum-enhanced entanglement, heralded single-electron Fock-state photon sources.

Language: Английский

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Free-electron–light interactions in nanophotonics

Applied Physics Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Jan. 18, 2023

When impinging on optical structures or passing in their vicinity, free electrons can spontaneously emit electromagnetic radiation, a phenomenon generally known as cathodoluminescence. Free-electron radiation comes many guises: Cherenkov, transition, and Smith–Purcell but also electron scintillation, commonly referred to incoherent While those effects have been at the heart of fundamental discoveries technological developments high-energy physics past century, recent demonstration photonic nanophotonic systems has attracted great deal attention. Those arose from predictions that exploit nanophotonics for novel regimes, now becoming accessible thanks advances nanofabrication. In general, proper design enable shaping, control, enhancement free-electron any above-mentioned effects. opens way promising applications, such widely tunable integrated light sources x-ray THz frequencies, miniaturized particle accelerators, highly sensitive detectors. Here, we review emerging field nanophotonics. We first present unified framework describe light–matter interaction arbitrary systems. then show how this sheds physical underpinnings methods used control enhance radiation. Namely, points central role played by eigenmodes controlling output properties (e.g., frequency, directionality, polarization). experimental techniques characterize scanning transmission microscopes, which emerged platforms realization phenomena described review. further discuss various extract spectral, angular, polarization-resolved information conclude outlining directions field, including ultrafast quantum short-wavelength emitters ultraviolet soft topological states crystals.

Language: Английский

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Advances in ultrafast plasmonics

Applied Physics Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(2)

Published: June 1, 2023

In the past 20 years, we have reached a broad understanding of many light-driven phenomena in nanoscale systems. The temporal dynamics excited states are instead quite challenging to explore, and, at same time, crucial study for origin fundamental physical and chemical processes. this review, examine current state prospects ultrafast driven by plasmons both from applied point view. This research area is referred as plasmonics represents an outstanding playground tailor control fast optical electronic processes nanoscale, such switching, single photon emission, strong coupling interactions photochemical reactions. Here, provide overview field describe methodologies monitor with timescales terms modeling experimental characterization. Various directions showcased, among others recent advances plasmon-driven chemistry multi-functional plasmonics, which charge, spin, lattice degrees freedom exploited active properties materials. As focus shifts development practical devices, all-optical transistors, also emphasize new materials applications highlight relativistic realm. latter promising potential fusion or particle light sources providing attosecond duration.

Language: Английский

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Attosecond electron microscopy by free-electron homodyne detection

Nature Photonics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18(5), P. 509 - 515

Published: Feb. 12, 2024

Abstract Time-resolved electron microscopy aims to track nanoscale excitations and dynamic states of matter at a temporal resolution ultimately reaching the attosecond regime. Periodically time-varying fields in an illuminated specimen cause free-electron inelastic scattering, which enables spectroscopic imaging near-field intensities. However, access evolution structures within cycle light requires sensitivity optical phase. Here we introduce homodyne detection as universally applicable approach phase-resolved responses high spatiotemporal resolution. In this scheme, phase-controlled reference interaction serves local oscillator extract arbitrary sample-induced modulations wavefunction. We demonstrate principle through plasmonic with few-nanometre spatial sub-cycle resolutions. Due its both phase- amplitude-modulated beams, measurements will be able detect amplify weak signals stemming from wide variety microscopic origins, including linear nonlinear polarizations, atomic molecular resonances, attosecond-modulated structure factors.

Language: Английский

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Titanium:sapphire-on-insulator integrated lasers and amplifiers

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 630(8018), P. 853 - 859

Published: June 26, 2024

Language: Английский

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