SEPhIM | Strong electron-photon interactions with high-Q microresonators

Summary
The main objective of the SEPhIM research action is the development and exploitation of strong electron-photon interactions with photonic-chip-based high-Q microresonators and photo-induced near-field electron microscopy (PINEM). This will be achieved using the ultra-high quality factor of integrated microresonators to enhance the coupling strength between free electrons and cavity photons in an ultrafast transmission electron microscope (UTEM). This project will bridge and separately advance the fields of integrated photonics, ultrafast electron microscopy, and quantum optics.

By performing UTEM-PINEM, a multidimensional imaging and spectroscopy of the microresonators are available. The enhanced electron-photon interaction, mediated by the high Q-factor of the microresonators, will lead to a strong phase modulation of free electrons, a wide spectral broadening of the electron energy, and the measurement of cavity-photon lifetime.

Moreover, using temporal dissipative solitons formed in the microresonators, time-gated electron-soliton interactions will also be investigated. Due to the strong spatiotemporal confinement of the soliton pulse, the electron-photon coupling will be further enhanced. Attosecond electron pulses in UTEM will enable time-domain electron microscopy of the soliton waveforms, while the concomitant generation of optical frequency combs will provide spectrally-resolved characterization of the electron-soliton interaction.

Furthermore, strong coupling between free electrons and cavity photons will enable quantum state synthesis and entanglement generation. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we intend to perform all-optical non-demolition detection of free electrons. The electron-photon interaction will be used to herald and register transmitted electrons, thus suppressing shot-noise in the electron beam. This will improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reduce radiation damage in electron imaging and spectroscopy techniques.
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Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101033593
Start date: 01-04-2021
End date: 31-03-2023
Total budget - Public funding: 191 149,44 Euro - 191 149,00 Euro
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Original description

The main objective of the SEPhIM research action is the development and exploitation of strong electron-photon interactions with photonic-chip-based high-Q microresonators and photo-induced near-field electron microscopy (PINEM). This will be achieved using the ultra-high quality factor of integrated microresonators to enhance the coupling strength between free electrons and cavity photons in an ultrafast transmission electron microscope (UTEM). This project will bridge and separately advance the fields of integrated photonics, ultrafast electron microscopy, and quantum optics.

By performing UTEM-PINEM, a multidimensional imaging and spectroscopy of the microresonators are available. The enhanced electron-photon interaction, mediated by the high Q-factor of the microresonators, will lead to a strong phase modulation of free electrons, a wide spectral broadening of the electron energy, and the measurement of cavity-photon lifetime.

Moreover, using temporal dissipative solitons formed in the microresonators, time-gated electron-soliton interactions will also be investigated. Due to the strong spatiotemporal confinement of the soliton pulse, the electron-photon coupling will be further enhanced. Attosecond electron pulses in UTEM will enable time-domain electron microscopy of the soliton waveforms, while the concomitant generation of optical frequency combs will provide spectrally-resolved characterization of the electron-soliton interaction.

Furthermore, strong coupling between free electrons and cavity photons will enable quantum state synthesis and entanglement generation. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we intend to perform all-optical non-demolition detection of free electrons. The electron-photon interaction will be used to herald and register transmitted electrons, thus suppressing shot-noise in the electron beam. This will improve the signal-to-noise ratio and reduce radiation damage in electron imaging and spectroscopy techniques.

Status

CLOSED

Call topic

MSCA-IF-2020

Update Date

28-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.3. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
H2020-EU.1.3.2. Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
MSCA-IF-2020 Individual Fellowships