Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

This work is devoted to the development of novel photon-detector models at room temperature using quantum optics elements. This work comprises of two photon-number-resolving detector (PNRD) models, and the application of PNRD in LIDAR. The first model is based on using a two-mode squeezing device to resolve photon number at room temperature. In this model we study the average intensity-intensity correlations signal at the output of a two-mode squeezing device with |N> and |α> as the two input modes. We show that the input photon-number can be resolved from the average intensity-intensity correlations. In particular, we show jumps in the average intensity-intensity correlations signal as a function of input photon-number N. Therefore, we propose that such a device may be deployed as photon-number-resolving detector at room temperature with high efficiency. In the second model we study the atom-vapor based PNRD from first principles, including quantum mechanical treatment of the electromagnetic field. We analyze a photon detector model that combines coherently controlled absorption of light and resonance fluorescence to achieve photon counting at room temperature. In particular we identify the fundamental limits to this particular scheme of photon detection. We show that there exists a time-energy uncertainty between the incident pulse strength and the time period of the incident pulse. We verify the role of a large ensemble of atoms in boosting the efficiency of such a detector. Lastly, we show the application of PNRD technique to enhance laser range finding and light detection and ranging. We present a technique that improves the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of range-finding, sensing, and other light-detection applications. The technique filters out low photon numbers using PNRD. This technique has no classical analog and cannot be achieved with classical detectors. We investigate the properties of our technique and show under what conditions the scheme surpasses the classical SNR. Finally, we simulate the operation of a rangefinder, showing improvement with a low number of signal samplings and confirming the theory with a high number of signal samplings.

Date

3-29-2020

Committee Chair

Lee, Hwang

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.5198

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