Non-Hermitian photon number filtering using N00N state Bloch oscillations

Abstract

We explore Bloch oscillations of $N=1$ and $N=2$ photonic N00N states, using an array of linearly growing effective index waveguides with a simulated asymmetric loss profile. Starting with equal probability input $N=1$ and $N=2$ N00N states, and siphoning off a portion of the waveguides near the half Bloch period, we selectively output specific photon number states. Tuning the input phase, we achieve dynamic switching between 2-photon dominated (80\% of the output) and 1-photon dominated (90\% of the output) cases. This offers a path to improved state preparation in photonic circuits used in computing and networking.