Generation of High-Order Vortex States from Two-Mode Squeezed States

Abstract

We report a scheme for generation of high-order vortex states using two-mode photon-number squeezed states, generated via the non-linear process of Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion. By applying a parametric rotation in quadrature space $(X,Y)$, using a $\phi$ converter, the Gaussian quadrature profile of the photon-number squeezed input state can be mapped into a superposition of Laguerre-Gauss modes with $N$ vortices or singularities, for an input state containing $N$ photons, thus mapping photon-number fluctuations to interference effects in quadrature space. Our scheme has the potential to improve measurement sensitivity beyond the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL $\propto \sqrt{N}$), by exploiting the advantages of optical vortices, such as ease of creation and detection, high dimensionality or topological properties, for applications requiring reduced uncertainty, such as quantum cryptography, quantum metrology and sensing.