Producing bright quantum optical states using plasmas

Quantum light exhibits phenomena absent in classical descriptions, such as entanglement and squeezed fluctuations. While entangled photon pair generation using laser-pumped nonlinear crystals spurred initial applications, this method's intensity limitations hinder emerging fields like quantum lithography and squeezed-vacuum induced high harmonic generation. This presentation explores plasmas as an alternative medium, leveraging their capacity for higher pump intensities. We will survey relevant plasma interactions for producing quantum optical outputs and demonstrate that, despite plasma turbulence, the thermal phonon population remains comparable to room-temperature crystals due to the high plasma eigenfrequency. This new intensity regime unlocks significant potential for high-intensity quantum optics, impacting quantum computing, communication, and precision measurement.