Entangled-photon interferometry for plasmas

Abstract

Subpicosecond coincidence timing from nonlocal intensity interference of entangled photons allows quantum interferometry for plasmas. Using a warm plasma dispersion relation, we correlate phase measurement sensitivity with different plasma properties or physics mechanisms over six orders of magnitude. Due to Nα (α≤−1/2) scaling with the photon number N, quantum interferometry using entangled light can probe small signals in plasmas not previously accessible. As an example, it is predicted that plasmas will induce shifts to a Gaussian dip, a well-known quantum optics phenomenon that is yet to be demonstrated for plasmas.