Quantum choppers

Abstract

An optical chopper periodically interrupts a classical light beam. We propose a realizable quantum version of the optical chopper, where the time-periodic driving of the light-matter coupling is achieved through a nonlinear three wave mixing element. We theoretically investigate how our scheme can be used for the controllable shaping of few photon light. Using Floquet dynamics, we find strong periodic modulations of the transmission and reflection envelopes in the scattered few-photon pulses, including photon compression and blockade, as well as dramatic changes in the quantum light statistics. Our theoretical analysis allows us to explain these non-trivial phenomena as arising from non-adiabatic memory effects.