[Special Joint CQSE-NCTS seminar] Coherent States of Photonic Dimers: From Fundamental Quantum Optics to Emerging Quantum Technologies

Title: [Special Joint CQSE-NCTS seminar] Coherent States of Photonic Dimers: From Fundamental Quantum Optics to Emerging Quantum Technologies
Speaker: Prof. Jung-Tsung Shen (Washington University in St. Louis)
Time: 2026/6/26 (Fri.) 14:30-15:30
Place: Rm. 312, CCMS & New Physics Building, NTU
Online: https://nationaltaiwanuniversity-zbh.my.webex.com/nationaltaiwanuniversity-zbh.my/j.php?MTID=m1d00c2b823d1db89f8b36d654345dfca
 

Abstract
The discovery and control of photonic bound states open a new frontier in quantum optics. The simplest of these, the two-photon dimer, provides a platform for exploring coherent states of composite light quanta and their unique coherence properties. Very recently, we observed photonic dimers in a solid-state system for the first time, extending their realization beyond ultracold atomic platforms and marking an important step toward scalable implementations.
I will present a comprehensive framework for coherent photonic dimer states, bridging the physics of Bose–Einstein condensation and Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer pairing, and highlight their technological implications. Recent progress demonstrates how these states enable quantum-enhanced functionalities across multiple domains: quantum two-photon excitation microscopy with quasi-linear absorption scaling for deep-tissue imaging; atmospheric turbulence–free imaging with robust coherence against random scattering; increased channel capacity in noisy communication environments; and the realization of deterministic two-photon controlled-Z gates, a key primitive for quantum logic.

Together, these results showcase the dual scientific and technological promise of photonic dimers, uniting fundamental quantum optics with emerging applications in quantum imaging, communication, and computation. 
 
Biography
Jung-Tsung Shen received his Ph.D. in condensed matter physics from MIT under the supervision of Patrick Lee, and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Ginzton Laboratories at Stanford University. He was a Bell Labs graduate fellow and interned across its theoretical physics, semiconductor physics, and optical physics divisions.