Quantum light sources with configurable lifetime leveraging parity-time symmetry
Abstract
Quantum light sources with configurable photon lifetimes are essential for large-scale quantum circuits, enabling applications in programmable quantum computing, various quantum key distribution protocols, and quantum tomography techniques. However, the fundamental trade-off between efficiency and photon lifetime imposes significant challenges on the design of high-performance large configurable lifetime quantum light sources. Here, we report on such chip-scale quantum light sources by harnessing the unique feature of parity-time (PT) symmetry. The core design centers on employing PT-symmetric coupling between two microresonators of distinct circumferences, enabling broad-range and selective tuning of intracavity photon density of states. By controlling the alignment between resonators, we achieved a 38-fold photon lifetime tuning range (4 ~ 158 ps), with the shortest lifetimes near the exceptional points of the PT-symmetric systems. The device generates energy-time entangled photon pairs with 87.1 +- 1.1% interference visibility and a heralded second-order autocorrelation of g_h^((2) ) (0)= 0.069 +- 0.001. Our work highlights the potential of PT symmetry for advanced quantum applications, including high-speed communication and programmable quantum computing, quantum coherent tomography, and beyond.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2504.01413,
title = {Quantum light sources with configurable lifetime leveraging parity-time symmetry},
author = {Nuo Chen and Wen-Xiu Li and Yun-Ru Fan and Hang-Hang Li and Hong Zeng and Wu-Qiang Chi and Heng Zhou and Hao Li and Li-Xing You and Guang-Can Guo and Qiang Zhou and Jing Xu and Xin-Liang Zhang},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2504.01413},
year = {2025}
}