Shaping Dynamical Casimir Photons
Temporal modulation of the quantum vacuum through fast motion of a neutral body or fast changes of its optical properties is known to promote virtual into real photons, the so-called dynamical Casimir effect. Empowering modulation protocols with spatial control could enable the shaping of spectral,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Universe |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/7/6/189 |
| _version_ | 1797531198329716736 |
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| author | Diego A. R. Dalvit Wilton J. M. Kort-Kamp |
| author_facet | Diego A. R. Dalvit Wilton J. M. Kort-Kamp |
| author_sort | Diego A. R. Dalvit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Temporal modulation of the quantum vacuum through fast motion of a neutral body or fast changes of its optical properties is known to promote virtual into real photons, the so-called dynamical Casimir effect. Empowering modulation protocols with spatial control could enable the shaping of spectral, spatial, spin, and entanglement properties of the emitted photon pairs. Space–time quantum metasurfaces have been proposed as a platform to realize this physics via modulation of their optical properties. Here, we report the mechanical analog of this phenomenon by considering systems in which the lattice structure undergoes modulation in space and in time. We develop a microscopic theory that applies both to moving mirrors with a modulated surface profile and atomic array meta-mirrors with perturbed lattice configuration. Spatiotemporal modulation enables motion-induced generation of co- and cross-polarized photon pairs that feature frequency-linear momentum entanglement as well as vortex photon pairs featuring frequency-angular momentum entanglement. The proposed space–time dynamical Casimir effect can be interpreted as induced dynamical asymmetry in the quantum vacuum. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:40:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea0d78605466401ebca7a6f3414767ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:40:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Universe |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea0d78605466401ebca7a6f3414767ed2023-11-21T23:01:28ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972021-06-017618910.3390/universe7060189Shaping Dynamical Casimir PhotonsDiego A. R. Dalvit0Wilton J. M. Kort-Kamp1Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USALos Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USATemporal modulation of the quantum vacuum through fast motion of a neutral body or fast changes of its optical properties is known to promote virtual into real photons, the so-called dynamical Casimir effect. Empowering modulation protocols with spatial control could enable the shaping of spectral, spatial, spin, and entanglement properties of the emitted photon pairs. Space–time quantum metasurfaces have been proposed as a platform to realize this physics via modulation of their optical properties. Here, we report the mechanical analog of this phenomenon by considering systems in which the lattice structure undergoes modulation in space and in time. We develop a microscopic theory that applies both to moving mirrors with a modulated surface profile and atomic array meta-mirrors with perturbed lattice configuration. Spatiotemporal modulation enables motion-induced generation of co- and cross-polarized photon pairs that feature frequency-linear momentum entanglement as well as vortex photon pairs featuring frequency-angular momentum entanglement. The proposed space–time dynamical Casimir effect can be interpreted as induced dynamical asymmetry in the quantum vacuum.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/7/6/189dynamical Casimir effectspatiotemporal modulationquantum metasurfaces |
| spellingShingle | Diego A. R. Dalvit Wilton J. M. Kort-Kamp Shaping Dynamical Casimir Photons Universe dynamical Casimir effect spatiotemporal modulation quantum metasurfaces |
| title | Shaping Dynamical Casimir Photons |
| title_full | Shaping Dynamical Casimir Photons |
| title_fullStr | Shaping Dynamical Casimir Photons |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shaping Dynamical Casimir Photons |
| title_short | Shaping Dynamical Casimir Photons |
| title_sort | shaping dynamical casimir photons |
| topic | dynamical Casimir effect spatiotemporal modulation quantum metasurfaces |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/7/6/189 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT diegoardalvit shapingdynamicalcasimirphotons AT wiltonjmkortkamp shapingdynamicalcasimirphotons |