Tailoring Nonlinear Metamaterials for the Controlling of Spatial Quantum Entanglement

Abstract

The high designability of metamaterials has made them an attractive platform for devising novel optoelectronic devices. The demonstration of nonlinear metamaterials further indicates their potential in developing quantum applications. Here, we investigate designing nonlinear metamaterials consisting of the 3-fold (C3) rotationally symmetrical nanoantennas for generating and modulating entangled photons in the spatial degrees of freedom. Through tailoring the geometry and orientation of the nanoantennas, the parametric down conversion process inside the metamaterials can be locally engineered to generate entangled states with desired spatial properties. As the orbital angular momentum (OAM) states are valuable for enhancing the data capacity of quantum information systems, the photonic OAM entanglement is practically considered. With suitable nanostructure design, the generation of OAM entangled states is shown to be effectively realized in the discussed nonlinear metamaterial system. The nonlinear metamaterials present a perspective to provide a flexible platform for quantum photonic applications.