Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SEPhIM (Strong electron-photon interactions with high-Q microresonators)
Période du rapport: 2021-04-01 au 2023-03-31
Due to the short de Broglie wavelength and strong interaction with matter, free electrons are widely used to probe minute physical structures and local excitations. In particular, electron microscopes enable imaging, diffraction, and spectroscopy at an ultra-high spatial resolution, having revolutionized material science and structural biology. The interaction of free electrons with light, a fundamental and special type of light-matter interaction, has been exploited in exquisite control and measurement schemes for electron beams. The ultrafast transmission electron microscope (UTEM) provides time-resolved electron microscopy with femtosecond temporal resolution by using an electron-pump-optical-probe technique in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). In particular, photon-induced near-field electron microscopy in UTEM has been used to investigate electron-light interactions with a high spatiotemporal resolution, leading to the demonstration of quantum-coherent control of free electrons, attosecond electron pulse trains, and hyperspectral imaging of nanophotonic structures.
Recently, there has been growing interest in investigating electron-light interactions mediated by dielectric photonic cavities. The project “Strong electron-photon interactions with high-Q microresonators” aimed at exploiting strong electron-photon interactions with photonic chip-based high-Q optical microresonators. In this project, we have demonstrated electron-photon interactions based on the combination of electron microscopy and integrated photonics. The cavity enhancement and electron-photon phase matching lead to an enhanced interaction strength, while photonic integrated circuits provide flexibility and compactness to tailor the interaction. This breakthrough has enabled continuous-beam electron phase modulation with continuous-wave optical fields, the generation of correlated electron-photon pairs, and free electron interaction with nonlinear optical states.
Recently, there has been growing interest in investigating electron-light interactions mediated by dielectric photonic cavities. The project “Strong electron-photon interactions with high-Q microresonators” aimed at exploiting strong electron-photon interactions with photonic chip-based high-Q optical microresonators. In this project, we have demonstrated electron-photon interactions based on the combination of electron microscopy and integrated photonics. The cavity enhancement and electron-photon phase matching lead to an enhanced interaction strength, while photonic integrated circuits provide flexibility and compactness to tailor the interaction. This breakthrough has enabled continuous-beam electron phase modulation with continuous-wave optical fields, the generation of correlated electron-photon pairs, and free electron interaction with nonlinear optical states.
The Objectives of SEPhIM are the following:
1. PINEM with high-Q optical microresonators in UTEM.
2. Time-gated electron-photon interactions with solitons.
3. Optical single electron detection and electron-photon entanglement in the strong-coupling regime.
Overall, the project has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period. In particular, we have accomplished the following milestones:
1. Multidimensional imaging and spectroscopy of integrated microresonators.
2. Coherent control of free electrons with high-Q microresonators.
3. Generation of DKS with a large bandwidth and a short pulse duration.
4. Time-gated electron-soliton interactions in UTEM.
5. Strong electron-photon coupling for electron detection and quantum state synthesis.
Deliverables of SEPhIM include:
1. Publication on PINEM with high-Q microresonators.
2. Publication on electron-DKS interactions in UTEM.
3. Publication on strong electron-photon coupling for electron detection and quantum state synthesis.
The research results achieved by this project have been published in high impact journals, including Science and Nature. In addition, the beneficiary has attended several academic conferences.
1. PINEM with high-Q optical microresonators in UTEM.
2. Time-gated electron-photon interactions with solitons.
3. Optical single electron detection and electron-photon entanglement in the strong-coupling regime.
Overall, the project has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period. In particular, we have accomplished the following milestones:
1. Multidimensional imaging and spectroscopy of integrated microresonators.
2. Coherent control of free electrons with high-Q microresonators.
3. Generation of DKS with a large bandwidth and a short pulse duration.
4. Time-gated electron-soliton interactions in UTEM.
5. Strong electron-photon coupling for electron detection and quantum state synthesis.
Deliverables of SEPhIM include:
1. Publication on PINEM with high-Q microresonators.
2. Publication on electron-DKS interactions in UTEM.
3. Publication on strong electron-photon coupling for electron detection and quantum state synthesis.
The research results achieved by this project have been published in high impact journals, including Science and Nature. In addition, the beneficiary has attended several academic conferences.
The SEPhIM project has led to significant breakthroughs in electron-photon interactions based on integrated photonics. The project has provided a new way to tailor electron-photon interactions with compact and scalable photonic integrated circuits, with implications for novel electron microscopy and spectroscopy, electron phase plates, electron-beam modulators, quantum light sources, and particle detectors.
The impact of this project includes:
1. The project has achieved a major breakthrough in electron-photon interactions, with significant impacts on the research fields of electron microscopy and integrated photonics.
2. The research outcomes of the project opens up a multi-disciplinary research field l at the interface of integrated photonics, electron microscopy, nonlinear optics, and quantum information science, with profound impact on both academia and industry.
3. The demonstrations have the potential to achieve disruptive technologies and have attracted significant interest from industry. The researcher will transition the research breakthroughs to industrial applications, contributing to technological advancement and economic growth in Europe.
For the European Union, SEPhIM has also contributed to the EU’s H2020 program in excellence research, demonstrating that Europe continues to produce world-class science, and is at the forefront of advancing novel electron microscopy technologies.
The impact of this project includes:
1. The project has achieved a major breakthrough in electron-photon interactions, with significant impacts on the research fields of electron microscopy and integrated photonics.
2. The research outcomes of the project opens up a multi-disciplinary research field l at the interface of integrated photonics, electron microscopy, nonlinear optics, and quantum information science, with profound impact on both academia and industry.
3. The demonstrations have the potential to achieve disruptive technologies and have attracted significant interest from industry. The researcher will transition the research breakthroughs to industrial applications, contributing to technological advancement and economic growth in Europe.
For the European Union, SEPhIM has also contributed to the EU’s H2020 program in excellence research, demonstrating that Europe continues to produce world-class science, and is at the forefront of advancing novel electron microscopy technologies.