Coherent control of photon pairs via quantum interference between second- and third-order quantum nonlinear processes

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Stefano, Alessia, Fontaine, Samuel E., Sipe, J. E., Liscidini, Marco
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Stefano, Alessia
Fontaine, Samuel E.
Sipe, J. E.
Liscidini, Marco
author_facet Stefano, Alessia
Fontaine, Samuel E.
Sipe, J. E.
Liscidini, Marco
contents Genuine quantum interference between independent nonlinear processes of different order provides a route to coherent control that cannot be reduced to a classical field interference. Here we present an all-optical analogue of coherent carrier injection by exploiting interference between second- and third-order quantum nonlinear processes in an integrated photonic platform. Photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion and spontaneous four-wave mixing coherently contribute to the same final two-photon state, resulting in a phase-dependent modulation of both the generation rate and the spectral structure of the emitted biphoton state. We illustrate the features of such interference and how it can be used to shape biphoton wavefunctions and their quantum correlations. These results identify interference between nonlinear processes of different order as a distinct form of coherent quantum control within quantum nonlinear optics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_18746
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Coherent control of photon pairs via quantum interference between second- and third-order quantum nonlinear processes
Stefano, Alessia
Fontaine, Samuel E.
Sipe, J. E.
Liscidini, Marco
Optics
Quantum Physics
Genuine quantum interference between independent nonlinear processes of different order provides a route to coherent control that cannot be reduced to a classical field interference. Here we present an all-optical analogue of coherent carrier injection by exploiting interference between second- and third-order quantum nonlinear processes in an integrated photonic platform. Photon pairs generated via spontaneous parametric down-conversion and spontaneous four-wave mixing coherently contribute to the same final two-photon state, resulting in a phase-dependent modulation of both the generation rate and the spectral structure of the emitted biphoton state. We illustrate the features of such interference and how it can be used to shape biphoton wavefunctions and their quantum correlations. These results identify interference between nonlinear processes of different order as a distinct form of coherent quantum control within quantum nonlinear optics.
title Coherent control of photon pairs via quantum interference between second- and third-order quantum nonlinear processes
topic Optics
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.18746