Quantum information technology is an emerging field with important applications such as quantum cryptography and teleportation, quantum imaging and lithography. These applications make use of single photons and pairs of entangled photons. In this work, we experimentally generate and attempt to detect the entangled photons. The entangled photon pairs are produced using a nonlinear crystal of beta bariumborate through a process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). Alignment necessary to detect the entangled photon pairs is implemented using a HeNe laser. The experimental results reveal key signatures of the down-converted photons: (i) energy conservation as the wave length of generated photons (810 nm) is two times larger than that of the photons used to optically pump SPDC (405 nm), which is shown by using a 10-nm band-pass filter centred around 810 nm; (ii) the angles between the two photons of a pair correspond to the configuration of momentum conservation calculated analytically;(iii) the photons arrived at the detectors within the jitter time of those; and (iv) orthogonal polarisation of down-converted photons (810 nm) with respect to pump photons (405 nm). These findings show the consequences of SPDC.

An optical frequency comb is a structure of equidistant, coherent spectral components which can be thought of as a large array of individual phase-locked laser sources. Their utilization in precision spectroscopy garnering part of the 2005 Nobel prize, optical frequency combs constitute a relatively novel technology with a large number of potential and actual applications. The research interest grew further with the 2007 discovery of comb structures in microresonators enclosing a nonlinear Kerr medium pumped by an external continuous wave laser, offering both substantially wider combs and the prospect of chip-scale integration. In this thesis work, the modeling of frequency comb spectra generated through optical Kerr cavities is considered using both an Ikeda map and the mean-field Lugiato-Lefever equation to describe the intracavity field evolution. Derivations of these mathematical models are first reviewed alongside relevant physics. They are then treated analytically to constrain model parameters to regions of interest in the context of Kerr-comb dynamics. Finally, numerical parameter sweeps are conducted in both models with respect to the pump power and frequency detuning, where the Ikeda map is additionally examined in the high-energy regime not faithfully described by the Lugiato-Lefever equation. The produced phase diagrams reveal a complex landscape of dynamics including Turing patterns, temporal cavity solitons, breathers and chaos. Ikeda map parameters in the high-energy regime capable of supporting previously reported super energetic cavity solitons are also investigated. Lastly, the numerical simulation package developed for parameter sweeps is presented.

This thesis intends to familiarize the reader with the concepts of photon statistics and correlations in quantum optics. Developing light sources that emit quantum states is central for the realization of quantum technologies. One important step in characterizing these sources is the measurement of field fluctuations and correlations, by coincidence measurements. The expectation value of a coincidence measurement, a simultaneous measurement of two intensities (or, more general, four fields), is represented by the fourth-order correlation function. The value of the correlation function, at zero delay between the detection of two photons, reveals important properties of the state to which they belonged, for example the fluctuations of the photon number. Since predictability is important for many applications, light sources emitting single photons are also characterized by the indistinguishability of consecutively emitted photons, or of two photons from separate emitters. In paper I we investigate blinking behaviour in quantum emitters, and its effect on the interference pattern and photon statistics with photons from two separate emitters. Blinking refers to an emitters transition into a non-emitting state, and subsequent transition back to an emitting state. We show that blinking can not be treated as linear loss, when measuring the fourth-order correlation function for two emitters in a Hong-Ou-Mandel setup. In general, a measurement of the fourth-order correlation function is robust to loss, which makes it a very practical tool. However, the relation between recorded coincidence counts and the correlation function is only direct in the limit of zero detection efficiency, and depends on the detection system. In paper II, we show that by adding a variable attenuation in the beam path, we can trace back to the ''true'' value of the correlation function at zero quantum efficiency. This method improves accuracy in correlation measurements by decreasing a systematic error at the expense of an increased statistical error, which is easier to handle, extending the use of coincidence methods to classical and non-classical multi-photon states. / <p>QC 20180517</p>

The Empirical Valence Bond (EVB) method has long been recognised as a reliable approach for the calculation of free energies of reactions in heterogeneous electrochemical environments. In spite of its established efficacy, existing implementations and protocols often pose challenges due to their tediousness or lack of transparency. This work introduces an open-source Python implementation of the EVB method, specifically designed to enhance accessibility and comprehension of the method making it highly suited for educational purposes. Recommendations are provided for integrating the methodology into the GROMACS application programming interface, to facilitate its integration into computational chemistry workflows and accellerating research. The program is demonstrated through various computations, including a short EVB study on the dissociation of \COt and tetraphenylporphyrin in the vicinity of a graphene sheet in water and dimethylformamide. Moreover, a novel analytical expression for computing the free energy profile is presented, showing promising agreement with the canonical discretised method.

To verify nuclear weapon treaties, such as CTBT the ability to scientifically monitor treaty violations is of importance. One tool for monitoring nuclear weapons testing is the use of gamma ray spectrometry. A calibration on a multi detector element coincidence gamma spectrometer setup was performed from previously gathered experimental data. Data from one calibration sample and a blank sample were analyzed in this project. The first part consisted of energy, full width half maximum (FWHM) and efficiency calibrations, for each of the detectors. Spectra were created, showing the results in the different detectors. From the spectra, several radionuclides were identified, both background nuclides and nuclides from the calibration sample. To each peak, a Gaussian shaped curve was numerically fitted and the parameters were used to perform the calibrations. Efficiencies were calculated for the individual peaks, whereas the energy and FWHM calibrations resulted in linear relationships. During the second part of this project, coincident gamma-rays were investigated. The efficiency for a coincident decay in each detector pair was calculated. This was compared with the product of the singular efficiencies, and a correction term was introduced. Furthermore, the signal to noise ratio was compared for spectra created with different data sorting methods.

No description available.

To investigate near-eld contributions for installed antennas, an in-house code iswritten to incorporate near-eld terms in Shooting and Bouncing Rays (SBR). SBRis a method where rays are launched toward an object and scatter using GeometricalOptics (GO). These rays induce currents on the object, from which the totalscattered eld can be found.To gauge the eect of near-eld terms, the in-house code can be set to excludenear-eld terms. Due to this characteristic, the method is named SBR Includingor Excluding Near-eld Terms (SIENT). The SIENT implementation is thoroughlydescribed. To make SIENT more exible, the code works with triangulated meshesof objects. Antennas are represented as near-eld sources, allowing complex antennasto be represented by simple surface currents. Further, some implementedoptimizations of SIENT are shown.To test the implemented method, SIENT is compared to a reference solution andcomparable commercial SBR solvers. It is shown that SIENT compares well to thecommercial options. Further, it is shown that the inclusion of near-eld terms actsas a small correction to the far-eld of the installed antenna. / För att undersöka närfältsbidrag för installerade antenner, har en kod skrivits för‌att ta med närfältstermer i Shooting Bouncing Rays (SBR). SBR är en metod där strålar (”rays”) skjuts mot ett object och sprids via Geometrisk Optik (GO). Dessa strålar inducerar strömmar på objectet, från vilka det totala sprida fältet kan hittas. För att undersöka bidraget från närfältstermer, så kan koden exkludera dessa. På grund av denna karaktär, kallas koden SBR Including or Excluding Near-field Terms (SIENT). Implementationen av SIENT beskrivs utförligt. För att göra SIENT mer flexibel, arbetar SIENT med triangulerade nät av objekt. Antenner representeras av närfältskällor, vilket låter komplexa antenner representeras med enkla yt-strömmar.Implementerade optimeringar av SIENT visas också.För att testa den implementerade metoden, jämförs SIENT med en referenslösning och jämförbara kommerciella SBR-lösare. Det visas att SIENT överensstämmer bra med kommerciella alternativ. Det visas också att närfältstermer agerar som enmindre korrektion till fjärrfältet av den installerade antennen.

This dissertation is focused on theoretical and experimental studies of optical properties of materials and multilayer structures composing liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and electrochromic (EC) devices. By applying spectroscopic ellipsometry, we have determined the optical constants of thin films of electrochromic tungsten oxide (WOx) and nickel oxide (NiOy), the films’ thickness and roughness. These films, which were obtained at spattering conditions possess high transmittance that is important for achieving good visibility and high contrast in an EC device. Another application of the general spectroscopic ellipsometry relates to the study of a photo-alignment layer of a mixture of azo-dyes SD-1 and SDA-2. We have found the optical constants of this mixture before and after illuminating it by polarized UV light. The results obtained confirm the diffusion model to explain the formation of the photo-induced order in azo-dye films. We have developed new techniques for fast characterization of twisted nematic LC cells in transmissive and reflective modes. Our techniques are based on the characteristics functions that we have introduced for determination of parameters of non-uniform birefringent media. These characteristic functions are found by simple procedures and can be utilised for simultaneous determination of retardation, its wavelength dispersion, and twist angle, as well as for solving associated optimization problems. Cholesteric LCD that possesses some unique properties, such as bistability and good selective scattering, however, has a disadvantage – relatively high driving voltage (tens of volts). The way we propose to reduce the driving voltage consists of applying a stack of thin (~1µm) LC layers. We have studied the ability of a layer of a surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal coupled with several retardation plates for birefringent color generation. We have demonstrated that in order to accomplish good color characteristics and high brightness of the display, one or two retardation plates are sufficient.

The algebra of SU(2) is ubiquitous in physics, applicable both to the atomic spin states and the polarisation states of light. The method developed by Majorana and Schwinger to represent pure, symmetric spin-states of arbitrary value as a product of spin-1/2 states is a powerful tool that allows for a great conceptual and practical simplification. Foremost, it allows the representation of a qudit on the same geometry as a qubit, i.e., the Bloch sphere. An experimental implementation of the Majorana representation in the realm of quantum optics is presented. The technique allows the projection of arbitrary quantum states from a coherent state input. It is also shown that the method can be used to synthesise arbitrary interference patterns with unit visibility, and without resorting to quantum resources. In this context, it is argued that neither the shape nor the visibility of the interference pattern is a good measure of quantumness. It is only the measurement scheme that allows for the perceived quantum behaviour. The Majorana representation also proves useful in delineating uncertainty limits of states with a particular spin value. Issues with traditional uncertainty relations involving the SU(2) operators, such as trivial bounds for certain states and non-invariance, are thereby resolved with the presented pictorial solution. / <p>QC 20170428</p>

Fine-pitch ferroelectric domain gratings are extensively used for generation of light in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions through quasi-phase matched (QPM) frequency conversion. Sub-μm QPM devices enables demonstration of nonlinear optics with counterpropagating waves, a field of nonlinear optics which remains sparsely explored due to the difficulty of fabricatinghigh quality gratings. In recent years, bulk Rb-doped KTiOPO4 (RKTP) has emerged as a highly promising nonlinear materials for fabrication of fine-pitch QPM devices through periodic electric-field poling. RKTP possesses large optical nonlinearity and high resistance to optical damage, while demonstrating improved material homogeneity and lower ionic conductivity than its isomorphs, which are important features for poling. Although fine-pitch QPM gratings, as well as large aperture QPM devices, have been demonstrated, fabrication of sub-μm high quality QPM devices remains a challenge. The primary aim of this research was to develop a reliable method to fabricate high-quality sub-μm periodically poled RKTP crystals (PPRKTP) and exploit them in novel optical applications. For this purpose, a novel poling method was developed. It was based on periodic modulation of the coercive field through ion exchange, where K+ ions are exchanged with Rb+ in the crystal, to modulate the coercive field and the ionic conductivity. This enables periodic poling of higher quality and with shorter period than ever before. High quality PPRKTP with a period of 755 nm were fabricated and used to demonstrate the first cascaded mirrorless optical parametric oscillator (MOPO), as well as the first MOPO pumped by a Q-switched laser. PPRKTP samples for blue light generation were fabricated, and second harmonic generation (SHG) was investigated with a high power 946 nm fiber laser. Up to 2 W of blue power was demonstrated for bulk samples, where the output power was limited by absorption of the SHG, leading to thermal dephasing of the devices. Laser-written waveguides were fabricated in PPRKTP for the first time, and a record high SHG power of 76 mW was obtained. Finally, the high-temperature stability of ferroelectric domain gratings was investigated. This is of utmost importance when a PPRKTP crystal is used as a seed for crystal growth. It was found that for charged domains walls, the domain-wall motion was highly anisotropic with rapid movement in y-direction while only small movements were observed in the x-direction of the crystal. / Ickelinjära ferroelektriska kristaller med artificiella domängitter med perioder av några mikrometer används idag för generering av ljus i de synliga och nära-infraröda våglängdsområdena, genom kvasifasmatchad (QPM) frekvenskonvertering. Med sub-μm QPM domängitter kan man åstadkomma ickelinjära optiska effekter med motpropagerande parametriska ljusvågor. Detta är ett område av den ickelinjära optiken som fortfarande är tämligen outforskat på grund av svårigheten med att tillverka högkvalitativa domängitter.  Under de senaste åren har Rb-dopat KTiOPO4 (RKTP) blivit ett mycket lovande ickelinjärt material för tillverkning av QPM-gitter med mycket korta perioder genom periodisk elektrisk fält polning. RKTP kristallen har en hög optisk ickelinejäritet och den tål höga optiska intensiteter, samtidigt som materialet har bättre materialhomogenitet och lägre jonledningsförmåga än vad dess isomorfa kristaller har. De två senare egenskaperna har visat sig viktiga för att få en lyckad polning. Fastän QPM-gitter med kort periodicitet, liksom QPM-gitter med stor apertur, har demonstrerats, är tillverkningen av högkvalitativa QPM-kristaller med sub-µm perioder fortfarande en utmaning. Det primära syftet med denna avhandling var att utveckla en pålitlig metod för att tillverka högkvalitativa sub-μm periodiskt polade RKTP kristaller (PPRKTP) och utnyttja dem i nya optiska tillämpningar. I detta syfte utvecklades en ny polningsmetod. Den baseras på periodiskt jonutbyte, där K+ joner byts mot Rb+ i kristallen, vilket resulterar i en samtidig modulation av materialets koerciva fält och jonledningsförmåga. Detta möjliggör i sin tur periodisk polning av högre kvalitet och med kortare perioder än någonsin tidigare har uppnåtts. Högkvalitativa PPRKTP kristaller med en period på 755 nm tillverkades och användes för att demonstrera den första kaskaderade spegelfria optiska parametriska oscillatorn (MOPO), liksom den första MOPO processen pumpad av en Q-switchad laser. Vidare utvecklades PPRKTP-kristaller för generering av blått ljus via frekvensdubbling. Dessa utvärderades med hjälp av en högeffekts-fiberlaser vid 946 nm. Upp till 2 W av blått ljus erhölls för bulkkristallerna. Uteffekten begränsades av absorption av det blåa frekvensdubblade ljuset, vilket ledde till urfasning i QPM-gittret p.g.a. termiska effekter. Laserskrivna vågledare tillverkades sedan i PPRKTP för första gången, och en rekordhög effekt på 76 mW erhölls via frekvensdubbling. Slutligen undersöktes stabiliteten hos de periodiskt polade domängitterna vid höga temperaturer. Det är viktigt att domängittrena är stabila när PPRKTP kristallerna används som ympämne för kristalltillväxt. Det visade sig att instabila domänväggar flyttade sig mycket anisotropt, med en snabb rörelse i kristallens y-riktning och en långsam rörelse i kristallens x-riktning. / <p>QC 20170519</p>