Open AccessQuantum-randomized polarization of laser pulses derived from zero-point diamond motion
Author(s) -
Douglas Little,
Ondřej Kitzler,
Seyed Abedi,
Akael Alias,
Alexei Gilchrist,
Richard P. Mildren
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.410287
Subject(s) - randomness , physics , quantum key distribution , quantum cryptography , polarization (electrochemistry) , quantum , quantum imaging , quantum information science , quantum information , optics , quantum mechanics , quantum network , quantum entanglement , statistics , chemistry , mathematics
Intrinsic randomness in quantum systems is a vital resource for cryptography and other quantum information protocols. To date, randomizing macroscopic polarization states requires randomness from an external source, which is then used to modulate the polarization e.g. for quantum key-distribution protocols. Here, we present a Raman-based device for directly generating laser pulses with quantum-randomized polarizations. We show that crystals of diamond lattice symmetry provide a unique operating point for which the Raman gain is isotropic, so that the spontaneous symmetry breaking initiated by the quantum-random zero-point motion determines the output polarization. Experimentally measured polarizations are demonstrated to be consistent with an independent and identical uniform distribution with an estimated quantum entropy rate of 3.8 bits/pulse.