Investigamos as propriedades quânticas conjuntas dos três feixes intensos de luz produzidos por um oscilador paramétrico ótico (OPO) operando acima do limiar, denominados bombeio, sinal e complementar. Analisamos experimentalmente as flutuações quânticas de intensidade e fase destes feixes, e como se correlacionam. Observamos pela primeira vez a presença de correlações quânticas entre as fases dos três campos. O ruído observado na soma das fases de sinal e complementar, Vq12=1,28(3)>1, passa a apresentar compressão de ruído após ser corrigido pelas flutuações de fase do feixe de bombeio, resultando em (Vq12)\' =0,84(3)<1. Para potências mais altas de bombeio, observamos também a existência de correlações quânticas diretamente entre as amplitudes do feixe de bombeio e um dos feixes convertidos (sinal ou complementar); a máxima compressão de ruído medida correspondeu a Vp02=0,86(3)<1. Estendemos nosso estudo às propriedades de emaranhamento deste sistema tripartite, para tanto utilizando dois critérios distintos. Nossos dados apontam a separabilidade do sistema no regime de operação estudado, em contradição com o modelo teórico. Utilizando o critério de emaranhamento de P. van Loock e A. Furusawa, obtivemos os seguintes valores para as combinação de variâncias que comprovariam a inseparabilidade caso fossem menores que 2: V0=1,29(5)<2, V1=2,04(11)>2 e V2=2,09(7)>2. Com relação ao segundo critério de separabilidade, positividade sob transposição parcial, obtivemos os seguintes autovalores simpléticos a partir da matriz de covariância medida: A0=0,94(8) e A1=0,36(6)<1, em que o emaranhamento seria evidenciado caso A0<1 e A1<1. Esta discordância com a previsão teórica está relacionada a um ruído clássico espúrio observado no sistema, cujas características são levantadas nesta tese. Nossa análise indica os rumos a serem seguidos para a observação do emaranhamento. Mostramos teoricamente que o emaranhamento tripartite previsto pode ser utilizado como recurso para a criação de um sistema emaranhado multipartite. Para tanto, diversos OPOs são utilizados em uma configuração em cadeia, na qual o feixe de bombeio refletido pelo primeiro OPO serve de bombeio para o segundo e assim sucessivamente. Este esquema permite a geração de uma rede quântica multicolor escalável. Por fim, descrevemos a construção de um laser de Ti:safira que representa o primeiro passo na integração entre luz não-clássica e física atômica a ser investigada em nosso laboratório. Este laser pode ser utilizado, ao mesmo tempo, como bombeio do OPO e de uma nuvem de átomos. O emaranhamento tripartite gerado no OPO estabeleceria a conexão destes últimos com os feixes convertidos, cujos comprimentos de onda possibilitariam a transmissão direta destes feixes de luz através de fibras óticas comerciais de telecomunicação. / We have investigated the collective quantum properties of the three bright light beams produced by an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operating above threshold, named pump, signal, and idler. We have analyzed experimentally their intensity and phase quantum fluctuations, and how they are correlated. For the first time, we have observed the existence of phase quantum correlations among the three beams. The measured phase-sum noise between signal and idler, Vq12=1,28(3)>1, presents squeezing when corrected by the phase fluctuations of the pump beam, resulting in (Vq12)\'=0,84(3)<1. For higher pump powers, we have observed the existence of amplitude quantum correlations directly between pump and one of the downconverted beams (signal or idler); the maximum measured squeezing level corresponded to the noise Vp02=0,86(3)<1. Our investigations included the entanglement properties of this tripartite system, tested by two different criteria. Our data points to the separability of the system in the accessible regime of operation, in contradiction with the theoretical predictions. Applying the criterion by P. van Loock and A. Furusawa, we have obtained the following values of combinations of variances which would attest the inseparability in case values smaller than 2 would be obtained: V0=1,29(5)<2, V1=2,04(11)>2, and V2=2,09(7)>2. For the second criterion, the positivity under partial transpose, we have obtained the following symplectic eigenvalues calculated from the measured covariance matrix: A0=0,94(8) and A1=0,36(6)<1, where entanglement is attested in case A0<1,and A1<1. This discrepancy with the theoretical prediction is caused by a classical spurious noise observed in the system, which characteristics are investigated in this thesis. Our analysis indicates the path to successfully observe tripartite entanglement. We show theoretically that the predicted tripartite entanglement can be employed as a resource for the construction of a multipartite entangled system. This is accomplished by pumping several OPO\'s with the same optical field, such that the pump beam reflected by the first OPO is utilized to pump a second one, and so on. This scheme allows the generation of a multicolor scalable quantum network. Finally, we describe the construction of a Ti:sapphire laser which represents the first step in the integration between non-classical light and atomic physics to be investigated in our laboratory. This laser could be employed at the same time to pump an OPO and to interact with a cloud of atoms. The tripartite entanglement produced by the OPO could then entangle the atoms to the downconverted beams, which wavelength would allow the transmission of these beams through commercial optical fibers for telecom.

La spectrométrie laser d'absorption différentielle est une technique bien connue pour la détection à distance d'espèces chimiques dans l'atmosphère. À ce titre, la bande III qui s'étend entre 8 et 12 µm est une région particulièrement intéressante, car les bandes d'absorption de nombreuses espèces chimiques y sont intenses et se recouvrent peu entre elles. Afin de détecter ces espèces à distance dans la bande III, il est nécessaire de disposer de sources dont le rayonnement est fin spectralement, largement accordable, et énergétique. Les sources basées sur l'optique non linéaire du second ordre constituent la seule technologie capable de répondre à ces besoins. Dans ce travail de thèse, nous présenterons des résultats expérimentaux portant sur deux architectures de sources paramétriques permettant d'émettre un rayonnement dans la bande III adapté à la spectrométrie différentielle en configuration lidar. La première architecture consiste à émettre un faisceau directement dans la bande III grâce au pompage de cristaux non linéaire par des sources laser à 2 µm. La seconde architecture, consiste à amplifier les ondes signal et complémentaire issues d'un OPO à 2 µm, avant de les convertir dans la bande III par différence de fréquences. Ces sources sont basées sur l'association de technologies émergentes et sont susceptibles d'offrir des solutions viables au manque de sources émettant dans la bande III. / Laser spectrometry by differential absorption is a well-known technique for standoff detection of chemical species in the atmosphere. The longwave infrared region (LWIR), ranging from 8 to 12 µm is particularly interesting because the absorption bands of many chemical species are intense and non-overlapping. In order to detect those species in the LWIR, there is a need for sources that are spectrally narrow, widely tunable, and delivers high energies. The sources based on second order nonlinear optics are the only technology able to meet those requirements. In this work, we will present the experimental results on two parametric architectures that allows emission in the LWIR for lidar measurements. The first one consists in emitting a beam directly in the LWIR by pumping nonlinear crystals with 2 µm pump lasers. The second architecture consists in amplifying the signal and idler beams coming from a 2 µm OPO, before converting them into the LWIR by difference frequency generation. Those sources are based on the association of new technologies and have the potential to offer a viable solution to a lack of sources emitting in the LWIR.

Nous avons développé un oscillateur paramétrique optique simplement résonant (SRO) basé sur un cristal non linéaire de niobate de lithium dopé 5%-MgO et périodiquement polarisé (ppMgCLN). Il est pompé à 1064 nm par une diode laser en cavité étendue balayable continûment de 1050 à 1070 nm injectant un amplificateur Yb-fibré de puissance 10 W. Il génère une onde idler comprise entre 3 et 4 µm et une onde signal entre 1450 et 1650 nm. La cavité SRO est asservie sur le pic de transmission d'une cavité Fabry-Perot de grande finesse. Nous avons alors pu démontrer un balayage mono-fréquence sans saut de mode de l'onde idler sur 500 GHz. Cette large accordabilité continue pourrait être utilisée pour la spectroscopie haute résolution multi-espèces dans le moyen infrarouge. Par ailleurs, nous avons revisité la théorie ondes planes du SRO, dont les solutions analytiques ont été données pour la première fois en 1969 par Kreuzer sous la forme d'une équation transcendante, en utilisant une méthode perturbative très puissante qui tient compte de la déplétion de la pompe. Nous avons pu ainsi déterminer les relations d'entrée-sortie du SRO sous la forme de relations explicites très simples, montrant que les puissances de sortie sont proportionnelles à la racine cubique de la puissance pompe. / We developed a singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO) based on a nonlinear crystal of 5%-ppMgCLN congruent lithium niobate chip and pumped at 1064 nm by an extended cavity diode laser widely tuneable from 1050 to 1070 nm injecting a 10 W Yb-fiber amplifier. It generates an idler wave between 3 and 4 µm and a signal wave between 1450 and 1650 nm. The SRO cavity is stabilized to the top of a Fabry-Perot transmission fringe. We then demonstrated a mode-hop-free idler tuning range of 500 GHz. This broad continuous tunability could be used for multi-species high resolution spectroscopy in the mid-infrared. Moreover, we have revisited the plane waves SRO theory, whose analytical solutions were given for the first time in 1969 by Kreuzer in the form of a transcendental equation, using a very powerful perturbative method which takes into account the depletion of the pump. We were able to determine the input-output relations of SRO in the form of very simple explicit relationships, showing that the output powers are proportional to the cubic root of the pump power.

In this work, we discuss a description of quantum properties of light beams produced by an Optical Parametric Oscillator (OPO) above threshold, pumped by a 780 nm Titanium Sapphire laser, resonant with the D2 line of Rb with a noise spectrum of a coherent beam. The twin beams have wavelengths around 1560nm, in the telecommunication band. The states emitted by the OPO under study are approximately Gaussian (1), which allows us to describe them in terms of first and second order moments. As we analyze the noise spectrum of the fluctuations of each beam, the first order moments are null, which allows us to describe the state of the system in terms of a covariance matrix. We present the behavior of the noise spectrum and the correlations between the reflected pump, signal and idler beams. In addition, we applied different entanglement criteria to study the system. We present a prediction of the bipartite entanglement using Duan criterion (2). For tripartite correlations, we use the Furusawa criterion (3). We performed a study of bipartition pump and sum quadrature. As well, we applied the PPT criterion (4) for continuous variables, independently transposing each beam under study. The PPT criterion is necessary and sufficient to demonstrate entanglement between bipartitions for Gaussian states. In order to explore the behavior of the system using the steering criterion in the model developed by Reid (5), we theoretically study the criterion of inference for bipartite quadratures: between the twin beams or between one of the twin beams and the pump beam. In addition, we analyzed the inference between the three modes, through the bipartition pump mode and combination of sum quadrature of the twin beams. We develop a quantum teleportation protocol of a coherent input state, composed by the Titanium Sapphire beam whose Bell measurement is performed using the pump reflected by the OPO as an entangled state for the signal and idler beams as a first possibility to implement the protocol. Furthermore, we propose a protocol in which the signal beam assists in the process of teleportation. Thus, the fidelity of the system increases and exceeds the limit of non-cloning. We will describe the first measurements of correlations between the beams emitted by the OPO for this system. The tripartite entanglement characterization is the first step in the implementation of quantum optical protocols using a source of entangled states that is compatible with both Rubidium atomic systems and the telecommunications region, thus forming a quantum network. / Nesse trabalho apresentamos uma descrição das propriedades quânticas dos feixes de luz produzidos por um Oscilador Paramétrico Ótico (OPO) acima do limiar, bombeado por um laser de Titânio Safira com comprimento de onda de 780nm, linha D2 do Rb, com espectro de ruído de um feixe coerente. Os feixes gêmeos possuem comprimentos de onda na região de 1560 nm que compreende a janela de transmissão de fibras óticas. Os estados emitidos pelo OPO em estudo são aproximadamente gaussianos (1), o que nos permite descrevê-los em termos de momentos de primeira e segunda ordem. Como analisamos o espectro de ruído das flutuações de cada feixe, os momentos de primeira ordem são nulos, o que nos permite descrever o estado do sistema em termos de uma matriz de covariância. Apresentamos então o comportamento do espectro de ruído e das correlações entre os feixes de bombeio refletido, sinal e complementar. Ademais, aplicamos diferentes critérios de emaranhamento para estudar o sistema. Apresentamos uma previsão do emaranhamento bipartido utilizando o critério de Duan (2). Para as correlações tripartidas, utilizamos o critério de Furusawa (3). Realizamos um estudo da bipartição bombeio e quadratura soma. E, aplicamos o critério PPT para variáveis contínuas (4), transpondo independente cada feixe em estudo. O critério PPT é necessário e suficiente para demonstrar emaranhamento entre bipartições para estados gaussianos. Com o objetivo de explorar qual o comportamento do sistema frente ao critério de \"steering\" no modelo desenvolvido por Reid (5), estudamos teoricamente o critério de inferência para quadraturas bipartidas: entre os feixes gêmeos ou entre um dos feixes gêmeos e o feixe de bombeio. Finalizamos essa análise caracterizando a inferência entre os três modos, através da bipartição modo do bombeio e combinação das quadraturas soma dos feixes gêmeos. Apresentamos a formulação de um protocolo de teletransporte quântico de um estado coerente de entrada formado pelo feixe do Titânio Safira, cuja medida de Bell é realizada utilizando o bombeio refletido pelo OPO como estado emaranhado para os feixes sinal e complementar, como uma primeira possibilidade de implementar o protocolo. Também propomos um protocolo em que o feixe sinal auxilia no processo de teleportação. Dessa forma, a fidelidade do sistema aumenta e supera o limite da não clonagem. Descreveremos as primeiras medidas de correlações entre os feixes emitidos pelo OPO para esse sistema. A caracterização de emaranhamento tripartido nessa nova configuração é o primeiro passo para a implementação de protocolos de ótica quântica utilizando uma fonte de estados emaranhados que é compatível tanto com sistemas atômicos de Rubídio quanto com a região de telecomunicações, formando assim uma rede quântica de transferência e aprisionamento de informação.

Une mémoire quantique réversible permettant de stocker et relire de l'information quantique est une composante majeure dans la mise en œuvre de nombreux protocoles d'information quantique. Comme la lumière est un porteur de l'information quantique fiable sur des longues distances, et comme les atomes offrent la possibilité d'obtenir de longues durées de stockage, le recherche actuelle sur la création d'une mémoire quantique se concentre sur la transfert des fluctuations quantiques de la lumière sur des cohérences atomiques. Le travail réalisé durant cette thèse porte sur le développement d'une mémoire quantique pour la lumière comprimée, utilisant un ensemble d'atomes froids de Césium stock'es dans un piege magnéto-optique. Nos deux principaux objectifs étaient le développement d'une source de lumière non-classique, et le développement d'un milieu atomique pour le stockage de celle-ci. Tout d'abord, nous commençons par présenter la construction d'un oscillateur paramétrique optique qui utilise un cristal non-linéaire de PPKTP. Cet OPO fonctionne comme source d'états de vide comprime résonant avec la raie D2 du Césium. Nous caractérisons ces états grâce à une reconstruction par tomographie quantique, en utilisant une approche de vraisemblance maximale. Ensuite, nous examinons une nouvelle expérience qui nous permet d'utiliser comme milieu de stockage des atomes froids de Césium dans un piège magneto-optique récemment développé. Car cette expérience exige l'utilisation de nouveaux outils et techniques, nous discutons le développement de ceux-ci, et comment ils ont contribue à notre progression vers le stockage des états quantiques dans nos atomes des Césium, et finalement vers l'intrication de deux ensembles atomiques.

Nonlinear optical interaction in quasi-phase-matched structures opens up unique possibilities to build compact and efficient parametric devices such as optical parametric oscillators, generators, and amplifiers with tailored spectral properties. The focus of this thesis is on novel parametric interactions with periodically-poled KTiOPO4 (PPKTP) as the parametric gain medium. Optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are attractive light sources for many applications, particularly in spectroscopy, and plays a central role in this thesis. Special attention is put on simple, yet powerful, spectral-manipulation and bandwidth-narrowing techniques for OPOs. The overall knowledge gained from these studies has been used for device construction of several tunable ultraviolet sources for biological sensing. In the case of bandwidth narrowing, the observation of decreasing spectral bandwidth in a noncollinear, idler-resonant OPO, as compared with a signal-resonant one, has been found to be due to the interplay between the material properties and the angular dispersion of PPKTP. To further reduce the bandwidth, we have shown that it is very beneficial to replace the output mirror in an OPO with a bulk Bragg grating. In fact, even close to degeneracy, where the bandwidth is typically wide, this approach is able to decrease the bandwidth drastically. Moreover, different OPO cavity designs have been examined in order to spectrally manipulate the resonant waves. By deploying a grating in a ring OPO cavity, it becomes possible to access the resonant wave and spectrally manipulated it in a zero-dispersion arrangement; the filtered wave is subsequently sent back into its own cavity as a seed signal, in a self-seeding arrangement. This particular cavity design decreases the bandwidth close to ~ 1000 times as compare to the free-running mode. An interesting phenomenon arises when two mutually coherent laser beams are used to pump a linear OPO cavity. When the pump beams intersect within the PPKTP crystal, an interference grating is formed and acts as a catalyst for the generation of new spectral sidebands through multiple cascaded four-wave mixing, in the pump, the idler and the signal directions. The spacing of these sidebands is determined geometrically by the incident pump angle, while the signals are continuously tunable over the c-band telecom window (λ ~ 1.5 μm) by rotating the cavity. Ultrabroad bandwidths have been generated in an optical parametric generator (OPG) pumped by an amplified picosecond Ti:sapphire laser. In the collinear direction the output spectrum extends over three octaves in the mid-infrared region. This enormously broad spectrum is also Fourier-filtered and subsequently used for narrowband seeding of an optical parametric amplifier (OPA). Finally, the spectral range between 285 nm and 340 nm is of importance for detection of biological substances through fluorescence spectroscopy. With this spectral region in mind a practical way to generate a tunable parametric device in the ultraviolet region is presented in the thesis. The developed ultraviolet laser is used for studies of the characteristics of biological particles. The ultraviolet source and the results from these studies, will be utilized in an integrated detection system, a so called early-warning system. / QC 20100923

Investigamos as propriedades quânticas conjuntas dos três feixes intensos de luz produzidos por um oscilador paramétrico ótico (OPO) operando acima do limiar, denominados bombeio, sinal e complementar. Analisamos experimentalmente as flutuações quânticas de intensidade e fase destes feixes, e como se correlacionam. Observamos pela primeira vez a presença de correlações quânticas entre as fases dos três campos. O ruído observado na soma das fases de sinal e complementar, Vq12=1,28(3)>1, passa a apresentar compressão de ruído após ser corrigido pelas flutuações de fase do feixe de bombeio, resultando em (Vq12)\' =0,84(3)<1. Para potências mais altas de bombeio, observamos também a existência de correlações quânticas diretamente entre as amplitudes do feixe de bombeio e um dos feixes convertidos (sinal ou complementar); a máxima compressão de ruído medida correspondeu a Vp02=0,86(3)<1. Estendemos nosso estudo às propriedades de emaranhamento deste sistema tripartite, para tanto utilizando dois critérios distintos. Nossos dados apontam a separabilidade do sistema no regime de operação estudado, em contradição com o modelo teórico. Utilizando o critério de emaranhamento de P. van Loock e A. Furusawa, obtivemos os seguintes valores para as combinação de variâncias que comprovariam a inseparabilidade caso fossem menores que 2: V0=1,29(5)<2, V1=2,04(11)>2 e V2=2,09(7)>2. Com relação ao segundo critério de separabilidade, positividade sob transposição parcial, obtivemos os seguintes autovalores simpléticos a partir da matriz de covariância medida: A0=0,94(8) e A1=0,36(6)<1, em que o emaranhamento seria evidenciado caso A0<1 e A1<1. Esta discordância com a previsão teórica está relacionada a um ruído clássico espúrio observado no sistema, cujas características são levantadas nesta tese. Nossa análise indica os rumos a serem seguidos para a observação do emaranhamento. Mostramos teoricamente que o emaranhamento tripartite previsto pode ser utilizado como recurso para a criação de um sistema emaranhado multipartite. Para tanto, diversos OPOs são utilizados em uma configuração em cadeia, na qual o feixe de bombeio refletido pelo primeiro OPO serve de bombeio para o segundo e assim sucessivamente. Este esquema permite a geração de uma rede quântica multicolor escalável. Por fim, descrevemos a construção de um laser de Ti:safira que representa o primeiro passo na integração entre luz não-clássica e física atômica a ser investigada em nosso laboratório. Este laser pode ser utilizado, ao mesmo tempo, como bombeio do OPO e de uma nuvem de átomos. O emaranhamento tripartite gerado no OPO estabeleceria a conexão destes últimos com os feixes convertidos, cujos comprimentos de onda possibilitariam a transmissão direta destes feixes de luz através de fibras óticas comerciais de telecomunicação. / We have investigated the collective quantum properties of the three bright light beams produced by an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operating above threshold, named pump, signal, and idler. We have analyzed experimentally their intensity and phase quantum fluctuations, and how they are correlated. For the first time, we have observed the existence of phase quantum correlations among the three beams. The measured phase-sum noise between signal and idler, Vq12=1,28(3)>1, presents squeezing when corrected by the phase fluctuations of the pump beam, resulting in (Vq12)\'=0,84(3)<1. For higher pump powers, we have observed the existence of amplitude quantum correlations directly between pump and one of the downconverted beams (signal or idler); the maximum measured squeezing level corresponded to the noise Vp02=0,86(3)<1. Our investigations included the entanglement properties of this tripartite system, tested by two different criteria. Our data points to the separability of the system in the accessible regime of operation, in contradiction with the theoretical predictions. Applying the criterion by P. van Loock and A. Furusawa, we have obtained the following values of combinations of variances which would attest the inseparability in case values smaller than 2 would be obtained: V0=1,29(5)<2, V1=2,04(11)>2, and V2=2,09(7)>2. For the second criterion, the positivity under partial transpose, we have obtained the following symplectic eigenvalues calculated from the measured covariance matrix: A0=0,94(8) and A1=0,36(6)<1, where entanglement is attested in case A0<1,and A1<1. This discrepancy with the theoretical prediction is caused by a classical spurious noise observed in the system, which characteristics are investigated in this thesis. Our analysis indicates the path to successfully observe tripartite entanglement. We show theoretically that the predicted tripartite entanglement can be employed as a resource for the construction of a multipartite entangled system. This is accomplished by pumping several OPO\'s with the same optical field, such that the pump beam reflected by the first OPO is utilized to pump a second one, and so on. This scheme allows the generation of a multicolor scalable quantum network. Finally, we describe the construction of a Ti:sapphire laser which represents the first step in the integration between non-classical light and atomic physics to be investigated in our laboratory. This laser could be employed at the same time to pump an OPO and to interact with a cloud of atoms. The tripartite entanglement produced by the OPO could then entangle the atoms to the downconverted beams, which wavelength would allow the transmission of these beams through commercial optical fibers for telecom.

No presente trabalho, descrevemos a construção de um oscilador paramétrico ótico (OPO) com meio atômico de ganho de susceptibilidade X(3) , e a caracterização de seu limiar de oscilação. O processo base para a construção deste OPO é a Mistura de Quatro Ondas (4WM), que acontece em meios não lineares tipo X(3) , como é o caso dos isótopos de 85 Rb e 87 Rb. Realizou-se uma revisão da teoria atômica do rubídio, do 4WM e da teoria clássica do OPO. Obtivemos e caracterizamos o processo de 4WM em função de três parâmetros experimentais: a dessintonia do feixe de bombeio em relação ao pico do crossover da transição 5S 1/2 (F = 2)-> 5P 1/2 (F \' ) do 85 Rb na linha D 1 , da potência do bombeio e da temperatura da célula de rubídio. Encontrou-se uma ótima região de frequências em torno a Delta = 0.77GHz para a construção do OPO com os átomos de rubídio como meio não linear. Nesta região obteve-se uma amplificação máxima de 450% para o feixe de prova com absorção nula e uma intensidade do conjugado alta, para o feixe de prova com frequência Delta= w+ 3GHz (anti-Stokes). A elevada amplificação observada permite, em princípio, um limiar de oscilação menos abrupto: o surgimento de oscilação aparece de forma menos sensível a variações da potência de bombeio. Com efeito, para a dessintonia Delta = 0.38GHz o limiar é suave. A caracterização do 4WM e do limiar de oscilação do OPO é importante para a possível geração de estados não gaussianos. Um limiar suave permite, em princípio, operação e estudo muito próximo do limiar, região em que há previsões indicando a geração de estados não gaussianos que são relevantes para aplicações em informação quântica. / In the present work, we describe the construction of a optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with atomic gain medium with susceptibility X(3) and the caracterization of the oscilation threshold. The basic process for the construction of this OPO is the Four Wave Mixing (4WM), a process that takes place in nonlinear media type X (3) , as is the case of the isotopes of 85 Rb and 87 Rb. A review of the atomic theory of rubidium, 4WM and the classical theory of the OPO was carried out. The 4WM process was obtained and characterized as a function of three experimental parameters: the pump beam detunning with respect to the transition crossover peak 5S 1/2 (F = 2) ->5P 1/2 (F \' ) of 85 Rb D1 line, the pumping power and the temperature of the rubidium cell. A good region of frequencies around Delta= 0.77GHz was found for the construction of the OPO with the rubidium atoms as a non-linear medium. In this region, it was obtained a maximum amplification of 450% for the prove beam with zero absorption and a high intensity for the conjugate beam with frequency Delta= w+ 3GHz (anti-Stokes). The high observed amplification allows, in principle, an oscillation threshold less abrupt: the oscillation appears in a less sensitive way with variations in pumping power. In fact, for the detunning Delta= 0.38GHz the threshold is smooth. The characterization of the 4WM and oscillation threshold of the OPO is important for the possible generation of non-Gaussian states. A smooth threshold allows, in principle, operation and study very close to this region, where there is predictions indicating the generation of non-Gaussian states that are relevant for applications in quantum information.

La portée des communications quantiques est limitée à quelques dizaines de km en raison de l’atténuation dans les fibres. Les répéteurs quantiques (relais quantiques synchronisés par des mémoires quantiques photoniques) furent introduits afin d’accroître ces distances. Or, pour le moment, les mémoires les plus performantes fonctionnent à des longueurs d’onde n’appartenant pas à la bande C télécom. Afin de profiter de ces mémoires, l’utilisation d’interfaces quantiques (milieu non linéaire quadratique) fut proposée comme alternative. En ajoutant ainsi par somme de fréquences un photon de pompe de longueur d’onde appropriée au photon télécom portant l’information, on transfère l’information à une longueur d’onde compatible avec les mémoires, et ceci sans dégradation de l’information portée initialement par le photon télécom. Notre but est ainsi de construire un oscillateur paramétrique optique continu simplement résonant (SRO) qui fournira un faisceau à 1648 nm qui sera sommé en fréquence aux photons télécom à 1536 nm pour transférer l’information vers un photon stockable dans une mémoire à base d’atomes alcalins. Pour transférer efficacement l’information, le SRO doit satisfaire quelques critères : une haute finesse spectrale (largeur de raie ~kHz), une forte puissance (~1W) et une longueur d’onde plus grande que celle du photon télécom à convertir. Pour ce faire, nous utilisons le faisceau non-résonant d’un SRO continu. Le premier travail réalisé dans cette thèse a été de faire la démonstration de la possibilité d’avoir un faisceau à la fois intense et pur spectralement en sortie d’un SRO continu. En réutilisant un SRO déjà développé durant nos travaux antérieurs, nous avons pu stabiliser au niveau du kHz la fréquence du faisceau non résonant à 947 nm (onde signal) de ce SRO, tout en émettant une puissance de plus d’un watt. Ensuite, nous avons conçu le SRO dont le faisceau non résonant à 1648 nm (onde complémentaire) a été stabilisé à court terme en-dessous du kHz avec une puissance de l’ordre du watt. Nous avons ensuite étudié la stabilité à long terme de la longueur d’onde du complémentaire à 1648 nm. Nous avons mesuré des dérives de fréquences de l’ordre de 10 MHz/mn. Ces dérives, venant essentiellement de la cavité de référence sur laquelle le SRO est asservi, peuvent être réduites en contrôlant activement la cavité d’une part, et en utilisant des techniques de stabilisation en fréquence robustes, d’autre part. / Long distance quantum communications are limited to few tens of km due to the attenuation of light in telecom fibres. Quantum repeaters (quantum relays synchronized by photonic quantum memories) were introduced in order to increase distances. Or, currently, the most efficient memories do not operate at wavelengths in the telecom C band. In order to take advantage of these memories, the use of quantum interfaces (second order nonlinear medium) was proposed as an alternative. Thus, by adding by sum frequency generation a pump photon at an appropriate wavelength to the telecom photon carrying the information, one transfers the information to a wavelength compatible with these memories, and this with a preservation of the information initially carried by the telecom photon. Our aim is thus to build a continuous-wave singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (cw SRO) which will provide a wave at 1648 nm that will be frequency summed to telecom photons at 1536 nm to transfer the information to a photon storable into alkali atoms based memory. To efficiently transfer the information, the cw SRO has to fulfill some requirements: a high spectral purity (linewidth ~kHz), a high output power (~1 W) and a wavelength longer than that of the telecom photon to be converted. To this aim, we use the non-resonant wave of a cw SRO. The first work done during this thesis was to experimentally prove the possibility to have both high output power and high spectral purity from a cw SRO. By reusing a cw SRO already built during our previous works, we were able to stabilize at the kHz level the frequency of the non-resonant wave at 947 nm (signal wave) of this SRO, with an output power of more than one watt. Then, we built the cw SRO of which non-resonant wave at 1648 nm (idler wave) has been frequency stabilized below the kHz level along with an output power of the order of one watt. We next studied the long term stability of the idler wavelength at 1648 nm. We have measured frequency drifts of the order of 10 MHz/mn. These drifts originating mainly from the reference cavity to which the SRO is locked, can be reduced by, firstly, an active control of the cavity and by, secondly, the use of robust frequency stabilization techniques.

Le travail présenté dans cette thèse porte sur la conception, la fabrication et la caractérisation de sources prévues pour fonctionner à la fois comme diode laser et comme oscillateur paramétrique optique. Ces lasers sont conçus pour émettre sur un mode d’ordre supérieur afin de permettre une conversion de fréquence paramétrique avec les modes fondamentaux du guide à la fréquence moitié. La diode laser et l’OPO partagent la même cavité optique ; pour assurer l’accord de phase et corriger les écarts à la structure nominale induits lors de l’élaboration par épitaxie, la largeur de ruban est utilisée comme paramètre de contrôle des indices efficaces. Les diodes proposées sont donc étroites (3-5 µm) et gravées profondément. En conséquence, il est potentiellement intéressant d’utiliser des boîtes quantiques pour limiter les recombinaisons non radiatives sur les flancs. Dans le cadre de ce travail, nous avons conçu des diodes basées sur ce principe pour les deux systèmes GaAs/AlGaAs et InGaAsP/InP, qui permettent respectivement d’obtenir potentiellement une émission OPO au voisinage de 2 µm ou de 3 µm. Dans le cas de l’InGaAsP/InP, nous avons étudié au préalable l’indice de réfraction des alliages InGaAsP dans une plage de longueur d’onde jusque-là non couverte par la littérature. Ces données ont été acquises via des mesures d’indice efficace (m-lines) de couches guidantes d’InGaAsP épitaxiées en accord de maille sur un substrat d’InP. Pour des structures laser-OPO optimisées, les simulations montrent que le seuil OPO devrait être obtenu pour une puissance de pompe intracavité de quelques centaines de mW, qu’il est réaliste d’atteindre pour des diodes laser à l’état de l’art. Nous avons étudié les propriétés électro-optiques de diodes lasers à puits quantiques GaAs/AlGaAs réalisées sur la base de nos dessins; l’observation de l’effet laser sur le mode TE2 valide le dessin vertical original de nos diodes lasers. En vue de la fabrication de laser-OPO à ruban étroit, nous avons développé des procédés de fabrication nouveaux sur la Plateforme Technologique Amont (CEA – Grenoble), notamment la gravure profonde (>10 µm) par ICP-RIE. Enfin, nous avons proposé un concept alternatif de diode-OPO, comprenant des cavités laser et OPO distinctes couplées par un taper adiabatique / The work presented in this thesis deals with the design, fabrication and characterization of sources intended to function as both laser diodes and optical parametric oscillators. These lasers are designed to emit on a higher order mode to allow parametric frequency conversion with fundamental modes of the guide at half frequency. The laser diode and OPO share the same optical cavity; to ensure phase matching and correct nominal structure deviations induced during epitaxial processing, the ridge width is used as a control parameter of the effective indices. The proposed diodes are therefore narrow (3-5 μm) and etched deeply. Consequently, it is potentially interesting to use quantum dots to limit non-radiative recombination on the sidewalls. In the context of this work, we have designed diodes based on this principle for the two GaAs/AlGaAs and InGaAsP/InP systems, which respectively allow to potentially obtain an OPO emission in the vicinity of 2 μm or 3 μm. In the case of InGaAsP/InP, we previously studied the refractive index of InGaAsP alloys in a wavelength range not covered by literature to this day. This data was acquired via effective m-line index measurements of InGaAsP guiding layers epitaxially grown on and lattice-matched to an InP substrate. For optimized laser-OPO structures, simulations show that the OPO threshold should be obtained for an intracavity pump power of a few hundred mW, which is realistic to achieve for state-of-the-art laser diodes. We have studied the electro-optical properties of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well laser diodes made on the basis of our designs; the observation of the laser effect on the TE2 mode validates the original vertical design of our laser diodes. For the manufacture of narrow-ridge lasers-OPOs, we have developed new manufacturing processes on the Plateforme Technologique Amont (Upstream Technology Platform, CEA - Grenoble), including deep etching (> 10 μm) by ICP-RIE. Finally, we have proposed an alternative diode-OPO concept, comprising distinct laser and OPO cavities coupled by an adiabatic taper