Entangled Optical Vortex Links

J. Romero, J. Leach, B. Jack, M. R. Dennis, S. Franke-Arnold, S. M. Barnett, and M. J. Padgett
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 100407 – Published 11 March 2011

Abstract

Optical vortices are lines of phase singularity which percolate through all optical fields. We report the entanglement of linked optical vortex loops in the light produced by spontaneous parametric down-conversion. As measured by using a Bell inequality, this entanglement between topological features extends over macroscopic and finite volumes. The entanglement of photons in complex three-dimensional topological states suggests the possibility of entanglement of similar features in other quantum systems describable by complex scalar functions, such as superconductors, superfluids, and Bose-Einstein condensates.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 15 June 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.100407

© 2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Romero1,2, J. Leach1, B. Jack1, M. R. Dennis3, S. Franke-Arnold1, S. M. Barnett2, and M. J. Padgett1

  • 1School of Physics and Astronomy, SUPA, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Physics, SUPA, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 ONG, United Kingdom
  • 3H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 10 — 11 March 2011

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×