Generation of two-photon states with arbitrary degree of entanglement via nonlinear crystal superlattices

We demonstrate a general method of engineering the joint quantum state of photon pairs produced in spontaneous parametric downconversion (PDC). The method makes use of a superlattice structure of nonlinear and linear materials, in conjunction with a broadband pump, to manipulate the group delays of the signal and idler photons relative to the pump pulse, and realizes a joint spectral amplitude with arbitrary degree of entanglement for the generated pairs. This method of group delay engineering has the potential of synthesizing a broad range of states including factorizable states crucial for quantum networking and states optimized for Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometry. Experimental results for the latter case are presented, illustrating the principles of this approach.