Mechanical rotation modifies the manifestation of photon entanglement

Cromb, M., Restuccia, S. , Gibson, G. M. , Toroš, M. , Padgett, M. J. and Faccio, D. (2023) Mechanical rotation modifies the manifestation of photon entanglement. Physical Review Research, 5(2), L022005. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.L022005)

Abstract

Mechanical rotation plays a central role in fundamental physics theories and has profound connections with the theory of general relativity. However, very few experiments have so far aimed to explore the interplay of mechanical rotation with entangled photon states. By adding Sagnac interferometers into the arms of a Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interferometer that is placed on a mechanically rotating platform, we experimentally observe the modification of the symmetry of an entangled biphoton state due to noninertial motion. As the platform rotation speed is increased, we observe that HOM interference dips transform into HOM interference peaks. This indicates that the photons pass from perfectly indistinguishable (bosonic behavior), to perfectly distinguishable (fermionic behavior). This demonstration is of relevance to global satellite quantum communications and paves the way for further fundamental research that can test the influence of curved space on quantum entanglement.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gibson, Dr Graham and Faccio, Professor Daniele and Restuccia, Dr Sara and Padgett, Professor Miles and Toros, Dr Marko and Cromb, Dr Marion
• Authors: Cromb, M., Restuccia, S., Gibson, G. M., Toroš, M., Padgett, M. J., and Faccio, D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Journal Name: Physical Review Research
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 2643-1564
• ISSN (Online): 2643-1564
• Published Online: 05 April 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Physical Review Research 5(2): L022005
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
• Data DOI: 10.5525/gla.researchdata.1411

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
305153		RAEng Chair Emerging Technologies	Daniele Faccio	Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE)	CiET1819/20	P&S - Physics & Astronomy
312871		Amplification of electromagnetic waves by a rotating body.	Daniele Faccio	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	521563101	P&S - Physics & Astronomy