%0 Journal Article
%T A quantum optical valve in a nonlinear-linear resonator junction
%A Eduardo Mascarenhas
%A Daniel Valente
%A Simone Montangero
%A Alexia Auffeves
%A Dario Gerace
%A M. Franca Santos
%J Physics
%D 2013
%I arXiv
%R 10.1209/0295-5075/106/54003
%X Electronic diodes, which enable the rectification of an electrical energy flux, have played a crucial role in the development of current microelectronics after the invention of semiconductor p-n junctions. Analogously, signal rectification at specific target wavelengths has recently become a key goal in optical communication and signal processing. Here we propose a genuinely quantum device with the essential rectifying features being demonstrated in a general model of a nonlinear-linear junction of coupled resonators. It is shown that such a surprisingly simple structure is a versatile valve and may be alternatively tuned to behave as: a photonic diode, a single or two-photon rectified source turning a classical input into a quantum output depending on the input frequency, or a quantum photonic splitter. Given the relevance of non-reciprocal operations in integrated circuits, the nonlinear-linear junction realises a crucial building component in prospective quantum photonic applications.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1307.6493v2