Quantum kinematics in terms of observable quantities and the chirality of entangled two-qubit states.

We consider the kinematics of bipartite quantum states as determined by observable quantities, in particular the Bloch vectors of the subsystems. In examining the simplest case of a pair of two-level systems, there is a remarkable connection between the presence of non-classical correlations and the chirality of the two bases generated by the singular value decomposition of the correlation matrix of the Bloch vectors. We investigate the limits imposed by quantum mechanics of this effect and its relationship with other methods on quantifying the system's non-classical behavior.

Majorization and measures of classical polarization in three dimensions.

There has been much discussion in the literature about rival measures of classical polarization in three dimensions. We gather and compare the various proposed measures of polarization, creating a geometric representation of the polarization state space in the process. We use majorization, previously used in quantum information, as a criterion to establish a partial ordering on the polarization state space.

Design of a shape-optimized metallic nanoheater.

We present a structural optimization method for metal nanostructures based on the shape dependency of their electromagnetic (EM) heat dissipation and thermodynamic transfer to the surroundings. We have used a parallel genetic algorithm in conjunction with a coupled EM (finite-difference time-domain) and thermodynamic modeling of the metallic nanostructures for the optimization. The optimized nanostructure demonstrates significant improvement in EM heating in the spectral window of optimization as well as expedited cooling properties.

Properties of quasi-homogeneous isotropic electromagnetic sources.

We study the properties of Quasi-Homogeneous Isotropic Electromagnetic (QuHIEM) Sources, a model for partially-coherent secondary light sources beyond the scalar and paraxial approximations. Our results include polarization properties in the far zone and the realizability condition. We demonstrate these results for sources with a degree of coherence described by Gaussians.

Causality and the complete positivity of classical polarization maps.

Mueller and Jones matrices have been thoroughly studied as mathematical tools to describe the manipulation of the polarization state of classical light. In particular, the most general physical transformation on the polarization state has been represented as an ensemble of Jones matrices, as ∑iV(i)ΦV(i)(†). But this has generally been directly assumed without proof by most authors.

The influence of the degree of cross-polarization on the Hanbury Brown-Twiss effect.

We show, by an example, that the knowledge of the degree of coherence and of the degree of polarization of a light beam incident on two photo detectors is not adequate to predict correlations in the fluctuations of the currents generated in the detectors (the Hanbury Brown-Twiss effect). The knowledge of the so-called degree of cross-polarization, introduced not long ago, is also needed.

Scalable, high-speed measurement-based quantum computer using trapped ions.

We describe a scalable, high-speed, and robust architecture for measurement-based quantum computing with trapped ions. Measurement-based architectures offer a way to speed up operation of a quantum computer significantly by parallelizing the slow entangling operations and transferring the speed requirement to fast measurement of qubits. We show that a 3D cluster state suitable for fault-tolerant measurement-based quantum computing can be implemented on a 2D array of ion traps.

Nonexistence of entanglement sudden death in dephasing of high NOON states.

We study the dynamics of entanglement in continuous variable quantum systems. Specifically, we study the phenomena of entanglement sudden death (ESD) in general two-mode-N-photon states undergoing pure dephasing. We show that for these circumstances, ESD never occurs.

High-visibility interferometric measurement of the diffraction phase.

We obtain the absolute phase in Fresnel diffraction for Gaussian beams by using a modified polarization Sagnac interferometer in which counterpropagating paths are spatially separated and labeled according to polarization. By erasing the polarization "which-path" information with an analyzing polarizer situated after the modified interferometer, we are able to regain interference and to precisely control the relative intensities of the diffracted and the reference beams. The resulting optimized visibility allows for a precise phase determination.

Stability of the ground state of a harmonic oscillator in a monochromatic wave.

The stability of the ground state of a harmonic oscillator in a monochromatic wave is studied. This model describes, in particular, the dynamics of a cold ion in a linear ion trap, interacting with two laser fields with close frequencies. The stability of the "classical ground state"-the vicinity of the point (x=0,p=0)-is analyzed analytically and numerically.

Quantum chaos of an ion trapped in a linear ion trap.

We describe the transition to quantum chaos of an ion trapped in a linear ion trap and interacting with two laser fields. Under the conditions of adiabatic illumination of the upper level of the ion, and when the frequencies of the two laser beams are slightly different, the system is reduced to a quantum linear oscillator interacting with a monochromatic wave. The property of localization over the quantum resonance cells is proposed to exploit in order to facilitate the process of measurement of the probability distribution of an ion on the vibrational levels.

Atomic-vapor-based high efficiency optical detectors with photon number resolution.

The ability to detect very weak optical fields with high efficiency (>99%) and to distinguish the number of photons in a given time interval is a very challenging technical problem with enormous potential payoffs in quantum communications and information processing. We propose to employ an atomic vapor as the active medium, prepared in a specific quantum state using laser radiation. The absorption of a photon will be aided by a dressing laser, and the presence or absence of an excited atom will be detected using the "cycling transition" approach perfected for ion traps.