2

“Quantum Optics and Quantum Information Laboratory”

Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Svetlana Lukishova (phone: 6-5283, , room Wilmot 303).

TA: Eric Brost ()

Class hours Office hours: Dr. Svetlana Lukishova

by appointment (Wilmot 303)
TUESDAYS: 7:45 - 10:45 a.m. – labs (Wil. 405, 406, 323)
THURSDAYS: : 7:45 - 10:45 p.m. – lectures and labs (Wil. 405, 406, 323)

2. Needed materials and tools

·  Lab notebook (whatever lab notebook you wish). Each person must have a separate notebook at the time of the laboratory. This record becomes the basis for the formal lab write-up, and should include all data taken, even that which is later discarded.

·  USB flash memory stick to save your data.

3. Experiments:

Lab. 1. Entanglement and Bell’s inequalities (Wilmot 405);

Lab. 2. Single-photon interference [Young’s double slit and Mach-Zehnder

interferometer] (Wilmot 406);

Lab. 3. Confocal microscope imaging of single-emitter fluorescence (Wilmot 323);

Lab. 4. Hanbury Brown and Twiss setup. Photon antibunching (Wilmot 323).

4. Preparation for Lab session

In the first section of each lab manual is a section called “Questions”. See website http://www.optics.rochester.edu/workgroups/lukishova/QuantumOpticsLab/.

You are to answer these on separate sheets of paper. We will discuss your answers with the whole group at the start of lab.

5.  Laboratory reports

Each student writes individual report. All lab reports should be no longer than 10 pages and should follow the following format:

·  Style and Format: Scientific publication

·  Report Preparation: Microsoft Word or pdf-format

Outline:

(a)  Abstract: statement of problems and objectives;

(b)  Introduction and theoretical background: briefly review theory necessary to interpret experimental results. Cite references, do not reproduce derivations.

(c)  Procedure, Results and Analysis: Measurement procedure, diagrams of equipment and analysis of data.

(d)  Discussion and Conclusion: Comparison of results with theoretical predictions, explanations of any differences.

6. Grading: you will be graded on four equally weighted lab projects, two exams (midterm and final), one 2-page essay and a final 20-min PowerPoint presentation of all results. Single Lab3-4 report is weighted as a two lab project.

There will be a penalty of 10% per week for late lab report submission, but you can improve your grade by rewriting your reports and essay and taking exams one more time.

I will also go through your lab notebook. You can only lose points for a bad notebook.

7. General information

You are expected to attend lab sessions at the scheduled times. Extra lab time will not be offered outside of the scheduled lab days. The lab is to be done as a group, but the write-up should be separate. Lab reports are due a week after the last scheduled lab exercise. Bring USB-memory for saving data.

8. Nongraded questionnaires

This course is supported by the National Science Foundation grant. We need your feedback how to improve this course. Several times you will be asked to answer the questionnaires (without providing your names) about each lab and the course.

9. Calendar:

Course introduction: Sept. 6

Lab. 2: Sept. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, (no classes on Sept 22, 27, 28 – essay writing)

Lab 2 Report deadline – Sept. 27.

Essay deadline: Oct. 4. Essay on single and entangled photon sources using web information.

Lab. 1: Oct.. 4, 6 (no classes on Oct. 11 – Fall break), 13, 18, 20, 25, 27, Nov. 1.

Lab 1 Report deadline – Nov. 8.

Midterm Exam – Nov. 3.

Labs 3-4: Nov. 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 29, Dec. 1, Dec. 6 (no classes on Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving).

Labs3-4 Report deadline – Dec. 13.

Final exam preparation and discussion (last day of classes). Dec. 13.

PowerPoint presentation – Dec. 8.

Final Exam – Dec. 20.

10. Safety procedures

The lab is a safe place but if one tries one can easy get in trouble. Please, read carefully all safety procedures described in the beginning of each manual. In particular we alert you the following hazards, which could lead to a fatality or serious injury:

(a)  High voltage;

(b)  Laser safety;

(c)  Chemicals.

11. Equipment safety

In this lab you will use very expensive and fragile equipment with the cost $50,000-$60,000 (lasers); $30,000 (EM-CCD-camera); $14,000 (TimeHarp 200 computer card); $5,000 (each of APDs) etc. Interference filters cost ~ $300 each, glass filters - $50-$70. So, please, read carefully all instructions in the beginning of each manual.