2014英特尔ISEF获奖作品摘要物理学和天文学 Intel Finalist Abstract Physics and Astronomy

Category: STEM国际竞赛, 国际竞赛 Date: 2019年9月16日下午3:21

获奖作品基本信息

年份	2014
学科	物理与天文学 Physics and Astronomy
国家/州	United State of America

获奖作品名称

Optimizing the Process of Single Photons Coupling into Single-Mode Fibers by Using a Genetic Algorithm and Spatial Light Modulation

获奖作品摘要

The purpose of the experiment was optimizing the process of coupling single photons into single-mode fibers.

The reason I chose polarization-entangled photons was that they are widely used in quantum Physics. They are produced within Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion type II. Coupling photons into fibers is very challenging due to many variables which impact propagation paths. I decided to optimize the process by modulating the paths by using a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM). The major difficulty was to optimize diffraction patterns displayed on the SLM. To achieve that I chose a genetic algorithm because it requires little knowledge about experimental setup and despite that it is highly efficient. No other algorithm would be so universal. My research shows this algorithm is suitable for all kinds of single-photons optimizing applications. Having done numerous experiments I obtained about 9000 detected single photons/second coupled into the fiber, starting from about 3400 detected single photons/second coupled into the fiber, after running my algorithm for about 2 hours. That confirms the algorithm is time-efficient and increases the number of coupled photons by about 2.5 times. Moreover, it significantly stabilizes the signal.

To conclude, the genetic algorithm can be very useful in all types of quantum laboratories using photonic qubits as well as quantum systems using photons, as it lowers operating expenses and saves time. Specialists’ visits will no longer be needed. Automatization of optimizing processes could also increase commercial use of quantum devices. Therefore I intend to continue working on a fully-integral FPGA device.

高中生科研学术活动英特尔 Intel ISEF 简介

英特尔国际科学与工程大奖赛，简称 "ISEF"，由美国 Society for Science and the Public（科学和公共服务协会）主办，英特尔公司冠名赞助，是全球规模最大、等级最高的中学生的科研科创赛事。ISEF 的学术活动学科包括了所有数学、自然科学、工程的全部领域和部分社会科学。ISEF 素有全球青少年科学学术活动的“世界杯”之美誉，旨在鼓励学生团队协作，开拓创新，长期专一深入地研究自己感兴趣的课题。

学科简介：物理与天文学 Physics and Astronomy

Physics is the science of matter and energy and of interactions between the two. Astronomy is the study of anything in the universe beyond the Earth.

Subcategories:

Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (AMO): The study of atoms, simple molecules, electrons, light, and their interactions. Projects studying non-solid state lasers and masers also belong in this subcategory.

Astronomy and Cosmology (AST): The study of space, the universe as a whole, including its origins and evolution, the physical properties of objects in space and computational astronomy.

Biological Physics (BIP): The study of the physics of biological processes and systems.

Condensed Matter and Materials (MAT): The study of the properties of solids and liquids. Topics such as superconductivity, semi-conductors, complex fluids, and thin films are studied.

Mechanics (MEC): Classical physics and mechanics, including the macroscopic study of forces, vibrations and flows; on solid, liquid and gaseous materials. Projects studying aerodynamics or hydrodynamics also belong in this subcategory.

Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUC): The study of the physical properties of the atomic nucleus and of fundamental particles and the forces of their interaction. Projects developing particle detectors also belong in this subcategory.

Theoretical, Computational, and Quantum Physics (THE): The study of nature, phenomena and the laws of physics employing mathematical or computational methods rather than experimental processes.

Other (OTH): Studies that cannot be assigned to one of the above subcategories. If the project involves multiple subcategories, the principal subcategory should be chosen instead of Other.