Publication detail

Entangling free electrons and optical excitations

KONEČNÁ, A. IYIKANAT, F. DE ABAJO, F.

Original Title

Entangling free electrons and optical excitations

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

The inelastic interaction between flying particles and optical nanocavities gives rise to entangled states in which some excitations of the latter are paired with momentum changes in the former. Specifically, free-electron entanglement with nanocavity modes opens appealing opportunities associated with the strong interaction capabilities of the electrons. However, the achievable degree of entanglement is currently limited by the lack of control over the resulting state mixtures. Here, we propose a scheme to generate pure entanglement between designated optical-cavity excitations and separable free-electron states. We shape the electron wave function profile to select the accessible cavity modes and simultaneously associate them with targeted electron scattering directions. This concept is exemplified through theoretical calculations of free-electron entanglement with degenerate and nondegenerate plasmon modes in silver nanoparticles and atomic vibrations in an inorganic molecule. The generated entanglement can be further propagated through its electron component to extend quantum interactions beyond existing protocols.

Keywords

Electrons; Quantum entanglement; Silver nanoparticles; Wave functions

Authors

KONEČNÁ, A.; IYIKANAT, F.; DE ABAJO, F.

Released

1. 11. 2022

ISBN

2375-2548

Periodical

Science Advances

Year of study

8

Number

47

State

United States of America

Pages from

1

Pages to

8

Pages count

8

URL

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abo7853

BibTex

@article{BUT182586,
  author="KONEČNÁ, A. and IYIKANAT, F. and DE ABAJO, F.",
  title="Entangling free electrons and optical excitations",
  journal="Science Advances",
  year="2022",
  volume="8",
  number="47",
  pages="1--8",
  doi="10.1126/sciadv.abo7853",
  issn="2375-2548",
  url="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abo7853"
}