Paiella R. Terahertz quantum cascade lasers: Going ultrafast. Nat Photon. 2011;5:253–255.
Abstract: A new asynchronous coherent optical sampling method allows for the direct visualization of actively mode-locked quantum cascade laser pulses at terahertz wavelengths.
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Santori C, Beausoleil RG. Quantum memory: Phonons in diamond crystals. Nat Photon. 2012;6:10–2.
Abstract: The demonstration that quantum information can be stored in a bulk-diamond crystal in the form of an optically excited phonon gives researchers a new type of mechanical solid-state quantum memory to explore.
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Xu XA, Wong CW. Quantum optics: Correlations on a chip. Nat Photon. 2012;6:75–6.
Abstract: Researchers have developed a semiconductor structure capable of supporting quantum correlations between photons and strong single-photon nonlinearities, thus paving the way for the development of chip-based devices for quantum secure communications and quantum information processing.
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Hase M, Katsuragawa M, Constantinescu AM, Petek H. Frequency comb generation at terahertz frequencies by coherent phonon excitation in silicon. Nat Photon. 2012;6:243–247.
Abstract: High-order nonlinear light–matter interactions in gases enable the generation of X-ray and attosecond light pulses, metrology and spectroscopy1. Optical nonlinearities in solid-state materials are particularly interesting for combining optical and electronic functions for high-bandwidth information processing2. Third-order nonlinear optical processes in silicon have been used to process optical signals with bandwidths greater than 1 GHz (ref. 2). However, fundamental physical processes for a silicon-based optical modulator in the terahertz bandwidth range have not yet been explored. Here, we demonstrate ultrafast phononic modulation of the optical index of silicon by irradiation with intense few-cycle femtosecond pulses. The anisotropic reflectivity modulation by the resonant Raman susceptibility at the fundamental frequency of the longitudinal optical phonon of silicon (15.6 THz) generates a frequency comb up to seventh order. All-optical >100 THz frequency comb generation is realized by harnessing the coherent atomic motion of the silicon crystalline lattice at its highest mechanical frequency.
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