Enrique "Kiko" Galvez is Charles A. Dana Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Colgate University. An atomic/optical experimental physicist, he obtained a PhD in Physics from the University of Notre Dame and was a Post-Doc at SUNY Stony Brook. He has been at Colgate University since 1988, teaching physics and doing research in atomic and optical physics and in the development of laboratory experiments to teach physics. He has involved numerous undergraduates in his research and has coauthored numerous publications and conference presentations with them. He has received several major research and educational grants from the National Science Foundation, Research Corporation and Air Force. He was the 2010 recipient of the American Physical Society Prize to a Faculty Member for Research in an Undergraduate Institution. Professional activities include serving as Chair of the New York State Section of APS, and chairing several conferences and workshops, which include Complex Light and Optical Forces (as part of Photonics West) and the recent Gordon Conference on Physics Research and Education.
Enrique “Kiko” Galvez, Charles A. Dana Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Colgate University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346. Email: egalvez@colgate.edu. Telephone: 315-228-7205
The goal of this immersion is to provide the underlying physics and the laboratory experience necessary to facilitate the implementation of single-photon experiments. These quantum optics experiments use correlated photons for illustrating fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics. The experiments can be used as part of a curricular program or as advanced laboratory experiments. The immersion will have two components. A conceptual/theoretical component will involve presentations of the experiments and discussion of the underlying physics in a workshop style. A second component of the immersion will involve hands-on laboratory experience. The laboratory techniques centered around the generation, manipulation and detection of weak streams of infra-red photon pairs.
The immersion will cover the discussion and realization of several quantum optics experiments. At the heart of the experiments is the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion. This process produces pairs of photons that are correlated and entangled. A first laboratory objective is to learn about the source and its use. Once the photon pairs are produced they are sent through Mach-Zehnder interferometers. Since the photons have a wide bandwidth the interferometers have to be aligned to zero path-length difference. A second objective is then to learn how to align interferometers to this specification. Finally, photons are detected individually and the detection of coincidence events captures the quantum nature of the source. Three different methods of detecting coincidences will be presented. All the experiments are table-top and fit well on a 2’x5’ optical breadboard, as shown in the figure above.
Participants are encouraged to read the suggested materials. Experiments are not inexpensive (about $20k, depending on materials at hand), so those interested in implementing them should consider planning ahead, requesting internal/external funds for the purchase of the equipment. No previous experience is required. Participants do not need to bring any equipment. Safety equipment will be provided.