Current Research

The Experimental Quantum Photonics Group at Louisiana State University conducts research at the intersection of quantum optics, photonics, and nanophotonics, with the goal of uncovering new physical phenomena and developing next-generation quantum technologies. Our work combines fundamental studies of the quantum nature of light with the design of practical approaches for quantum sensing, imaging, metrology, and information processing.

Our research focuses on understanding and controlling multiparticle quantum systems, engineering novel states of light, and exploiting quantum correlations to surpass the limits of classical optical technologies. By integrating concepts from quantum optics, plasmonics, and photonic networks, we investigate new mechanisms for manipulating light at the quantum level and translating these discoveries into robust, scalable platforms for emerging quantum technologies.

Our primary research directions include:

1. Quantum State Engineering and Characterization of Multiparticle Systems

The ability to engineer and precisely characterize multiparticle quantum systems is a fundamental requirement for quantum technologies. Our research develops new approaches for preparing, manipulating, and measuring complex photonic states whose quantum statistical properties can be tailored for specific applications. Rather than treating quantum states as fixed resources, we investigate how quantum interference, conditional measurements, photon-number-resolving detection, and light-matter interactions can be used to deterministically reshape the quantum statistics, coherence, indistinguishability, and entanglement of multiphoton systems. This work has established new paradigms for quantum state engineering, including the generation of high-dimensional entangled states, the manipulation of quantum statistical distributions, and the extraction of multiparticle quantum systems from classical optical fields. In parallel, we develop scalable techniques for characterizing large photonic systems through measurements of their coherence, photon-number distributions, and quantum correlations, enabling the study of many-body quantum phenomena that were previously inaccessible. These capabilities provide the foundation for our research in quantum sensing, imaging, quantum plasmonics, quantum simulation, and photonic quantum information processing.

2. Multiphoton Quantum-Enhanced Metrology and Imaging

Quantum measurements exploit the fundamental properties of light to achieve sensitivities and imaging capabilities beyond the limits imposed by classical optics. Our research develops scalable quantum metrology and imaging protocols that utilize multiphoton interference, photon-number-resolving (PNR) detection, and engineered quantum statistical measurements to extract more information from every detected photon. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on fragile quantum states, we investigate robust measurement strategies that remain effective in realistic environments affected by noise and optical losses. These efforts have led to the development of unconditional multiphoton quantum metrology protocols, quantum statistical cameras capable of surpassing the Abbe–Rayleigh resolution limit, and imaging techniques that extract quantum information from thermal and partially coherent light. More recently, we demonstrated that conditional PNR measurements enable the isolation of multiparticle quantum features hidden within classical light, producing quantum images with exponentially enhanced signal-to-noise ratios and enabling imaging even from vacuum fluctuations. By combining quantum statistical optics, computational methods, and advanced photonic instrumentation, our work establishes practical approaches toward high-performance quantum sensing, microscopy, remote sensing, astronomy, and biological imaging.

3. Multiparticle Quantum Plasmonic Sensing

Plasmonic nanostructures provide an exceptional platform for manipulating light at dimensions far below the diffraction limit, enabling ultrasensitive measurements of nanoscale physical, chemical, and biological processes. Our research pioneers the emerging field of multiparticle quantum plasmonic sensing by engineering the quantum statistical properties of plasmonic fields to enhance the performance of realistic sensing platforms. Rather than relying on fragile nonclassical light sources, we investigate how photon-number-resolving measurements, conditional detection, and multiparticle interference can isolate robust quantum subsystems hidden within classical plasmonic waves. These isolated multiparticle states exhibit reduced fluctuations, enhanced coherence, and rich quantum dynamics that can be exploited to suppress noise, improve signal-to-noise ratios, and surpass classical limits in sensitivity and spatial resolution. Our work has demonstrated deterministic control of quantum statistics in plasmonic systems, the preparation of the largest quantum plasmonic systems reported to date, and the isolation of bosonic, fermionic, and vacuum dynamics in multiparticle plasmonic fields. Building on these discoveries, we develop robust quantum plasmonic sensors capable of operating in realistic environments affected by optical losses and background noise. Current efforts focus on quantum gas sensing, nanoscale metrology, and subwavelength imaging, establishing a general framework for exploiting quantum statistical engineering in plasmonic devices for next-generation sensing technologies.

4. Control of Multiphoton Quantum Dynamics in Photonic Networks

Understanding and controlling the dynamics of multiphoton quantum systems is essential for the development of scalable quantum technologies. Our research explores how multiparticle interference, engineered photonic interactions, and synthetic quantum lattices can be used to manipulate the evolution of quantum states in complex photonic networks. We develop experimental and theoretical platforms that exploit optical near fields, non-Hermitian photonic systems, and photon-number-resolving detection to control quantum transport, coherence, and information flow under realistic operating conditions. By projecting complex optical fields into their constituent multiparticle subsystems, we investigate new mechanisms for reducing noise, preserving coherence, and implementing high-fidelity quantum operations in dissipative environments. Our work has demonstrated the control of bosonic and fermionic multiparticle dynamics, the realization of synthetic lattices in the particle-number basis, and new approaches for robust quantum state transfer and quantum simulation at room temperature. Current efforts focus on programmable photonic networks capable of implementing loss-tolerant quantum information processing, constant-time optical transformations, and the simulation of many-body quantum dynamics using engineered multiphoton interactions.

5. Multiparticle Quantum Plasmonics

Quantum plasmonics explores the interaction between light and collective electronic excitations in nanostructured materials, providing a unique platform for controlling light at dimensions far below the diffraction limit. Our research investigates the fundamental quantum properties of multiparticle plasmonic systems and develops new approaches for engineering their quantum statistical behavior. By combining concepts from quantum optics, nanophotonics, and many-body physics, we study how multiparticle interactions give rise to novel forms of quantum coherence, interference, and light-matter coupling in nanoscale environments. These investigations seek to establish new physical principles for manipulating quantum states in plasmonic structures, understanding the emergence of collective quantum phenomena, and exploring the role of quantum statistics in strongly confined optical fields. Our long-term goal is to develop a comprehensive framework for multiparticle quantum plasmonics that enables robust room-temperature quantum technologies for sensing, information processing, simulation, and nanoscale photonics.

Google Sites

Report abuse