Quantum correlations via vector soliton interactions

Quantum correlations play a prominent role in numerous applications, from quantum communications and networking to enhanced sensing. I propose using optical soliton splitting and inelastic soliton collision to generate pulse pairs with highly correlated photon number fluctuations. The fluctuations are studied using the linearized quantum fluctuation theory of vector solitons. I show that the interpulse correlations arise in the process of inelastic soliton interactions initiated by the polarization mode dispersion and modulation of the fiber dispersion. The inelastic soliton interactions produce pulses with highly correlated quantum fluctuations in the orthogonal polarization components of the field. In the time domain, the pulses have a four-lobe correlation pattern. In the frequency domain, the correlation functions acquire a ``checkerboard'' structure with alternating positive and negative regions. Correlations between the separated pulses arise only with appropriate pulse width, group velocity dispersion, and polarization mode dispersion. The generation of pulses with high intrapulse correlations offers the possibility of producing entangled sources for continuous-variable quantum communication and computation.