Lyons, A. , Knee, G. C., Bolduc, E., Roger, T., Leach, J., Gauger, E. M. and Faccio, D. (2018) Attosecond-resolution Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometry. Science Advances, 4(5), eaap9416. (doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aap9416) (PMID:29736414) (PMCID:PMC5935478)
|
Text
162646.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 606kB |
Abstract
When two indistinguishable photons are each incident on separate input ports of a beamsplitter, they “bunch” deterministically, exiting via the same port as a direct consequence of their bosonic nature. This two-photon interference effect has long-held the potential for application in precision measurement of time delays, such as those induced by transparent specimens with unknown thickness profiles. However, the technique has never achieved resolutions significantly better than the few-femtosecond (micrometer) scale other than in a common-path geometry that severely limits applications. We develop the precision of Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometry toward the ultimate limits dictated by statistical estimation theory, achieving few-attosecond (or nanometer path length) scale resolutions in a dual-arm geometry, thus providing access to length scales pertinent to cell biology and monoatomic layer two-dimensional materials.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding: E.M.G. acknowledges support from the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Government. G.C.K. was supported by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. D.F. acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007–2013)/ERC (grant no. GA 306559), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant nos. EP/M006514/1 and EP/M01326X/1), and the Leverhulme Trust. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Lyons, Dr Ashley and Leach, Mr Jonathan and Faccio, Professor Daniele |
| Authors: | Lyons, A., Knee, G. C., Bolduc, E., Roger, T., Leach, J., Gauger, E. M., and Faccio, D. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Journal Name: | Science Advances |
| Publisher: | American Association for the Advancement of Science |
| ISSN: | 2375-2548 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2375-2548 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Science Advances 4(5):eaap9416 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record
Funder and Project Information
Funder and Project Information