Spectral engineering of entangled two-photon states

We experimentally demonstrate an approach for manipulating the spectral profiles of entangled-photon pairs. The spectral properties are determined by selecting both the appropriate spatial profile of the pump laser radiation and the geometry of the noncollinear spontaneous parametric downconversion. Both spectra, the spectrum of the individual signal and idler photons, and the joint spectrum of the entangled-photon pairs, can be modified at will over a substantial range of values. This technique is therefore expected to be useful for an array of quantum-optics applications.