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Mapping the spatial and spectral modes of downconverted photons in angle phase-matched nonlinear crystals

preprint
posted on 2025-07-02, 09:59 authored by Evan Kumar, Lorenzo Uboldi, Cristian Manzoni, Giulio Cerullo, Ajay Ram Srimath Kandada
Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC) is key to generating broadband spectrally entangled photons for quantum optical spectroscopy. Here we use a a common-path birefringent interferometer to experimentally map the spatial-spectral mode structure of SPDC in Type I and II $\beta$-barium borate crystals using hyperspectral k-space imaging. Under broadband pulsed pumping, we observe strong spatial variations in the spectra, with distinct features for each phase-matching type. Simulations based on biphoton amplitudes and phase-matching conditions qualitatively match our results. This spatial-spectral mapping enables control over biphoton entanglement entropy, paving the way for optimized quantum light sources for material spectroscopy.

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Funder Name

Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CHE-2338663); Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca (PRIN Prot. 2022HL9PRP (CRESCENDO))

Preprint ID

124416

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