162 research outputs found
Single Photon Source with Individualized Single Photon Certifications
As currently implemented, single-photon sources cannot be made to produce
single photons with high probability, while simultaneously suppressing the
probability of yielding two or more photons. Because of this, single photon
sources cannot really produce single photons on demand. We describe a
multiplexed system that allows the probabilities of producing one and more
photons to be adjusted independently, enabling a much better approximation of a
source of single photons on demand. The scheme uses a heralded photon source
based on parametric downconversion, but by effectively breaking the trigger
detector area into multiple regions, we are able to extract more information
about a heralded photon than is possible with a conventional arrangement. This
scheme allows photons to be produced along with a quantitative
``certification'' that they are single photons. Some of the single-photon
certifications can be significantly better than what is possible with
conventional downconversion sources (using a unified trigger detector region),
as well as being better than faint laser sources. With such a source of more
tightly certified single photons, it should be possible to improve the maximum
secure bit rate possible over a quantum cryptographic link. We present an
analysis of the relative merits of this method over the conventional
arrangement.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, SPIE Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser
Imaging II. To appear in the proceeding of SPIE Free-Space Laser
Communication and Laser Imaging II, vol 482
Optimizing single-photon-source heralding efficiency at 1550 nm using periodically poled lithium niobate
We explore the feasibility of using high conversion-efficiency
periodically-poled crystals to produce photon pairs for photon-counting
detector calibrations at 1550 nm. The goal is the development of an appropriate
parametric down-conversion (PDC) source at telecom wavelengths meeting the
requirements of high-efficiency pair production and collection in single
spectral and spatial modes (single-mode fibers). We propose a protocol to
optimize the photon collection, noise levels and the uncertainty evaluation.
This study ties together the results of our efforts to model the single-mode
heralding efficiency of a two-photon PDC source and to estimate the heralding
uncertainty of such a source.Comment: 14 pages, 2 tables and 3 figures, final version accepted by
Metrologi
Topologically Robust Transport of Photons in a Synthetic Gauge Field
Electronic transport in low dimensions through a disordered medium leads to
localization. The addition of gauge fields to disordered media leads to
fundamental changes in the transport properties. For example, chiral edge
states can emerge in two-dimensional systems with a perpendicular magnetic
field. Here, we implement a "synthetic'' gauge field for photons using
silicon-on-insulator technology. By determining the distribution of transport
properties, we confirm the localized transport in the bulk and the suppression
of localization in edge states, using the "gold standard'' for localization
studies. Our system provides a new platform to investigate transport properties
in the presence of synthetic gauge fields, which is important both from the
fundamental perspective of studying photonic transport and for applications in
classical and quantum information processing.Comment: 4.5 pages, 3 figures and supplementary materia
An optical heterodyne densitometer
Researchers are developing an optical heterodyne densitometer with the potential to measure optical density over an unprecedented dynamic range with high accuracy and sensitivity. This device uses a Mach-Zender interferometer configuration with heterodyne detection to make direct comparisons between optical and RF attenuators. Researchers expect to attain measurements of filter transmittance down to 10 to the minus 12th power with better than 1 percent uncertainty. In addition, they intend to extend the technique to the problem of measuring low levels of light scattering from reflective and transmissive optics
Reduced Deadtime and Higher Rate Photon-Counting Detection using a Multiplexed Detector Array
We present a scheme for a photon-counting detection system that can be
operated at incident photon rates higher than otherwise possible by suppressing
the effects of detector deadtime. The method uses an array of N detectors and a
1-by-N optical switch with a control circuit to direct input light to live
detectors. Our calculations and models highlight the advantages of the
technique. In particular, using this scheme, a group of N detectors provides an
improvement in operation rate that can exceed the improvement that would be
obtained by a single detector with deadtime reduced by 1/N, even if it were
feasible to produce a single detector with such a large improvement in
deadtime. We model the system for continuous and pulsed light sources, both of
which are important for quantum metrology and quantum key distribution
applications.Comment: 6 figure
Experimental realization of a low-noise heralded single photon source
We present a heralded single-photon source with a much lower level of
unwanted background photons in the output channel by using the herald photon to
control a shutter in the heralded channel. The shutter is implemented using a
simple field programable gate array controlled optical switch.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Identifying entanglement using quantum "ghost" interference and imaging
We report a quantum interference and imaging experiment which quantitatively
demonstrates that Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) type entangled two-photon
states exhibit both momentum-momentum and position-position correlations,
stronger than any classical correlation. The measurements show indeed that the
uncertainties in the sum of momenta and in the difference of positions of the
entangled two-photon satisfy both EPR inequalities D(k1+k2)<min(D(k1),D(k2))
and D(x1-x2)<min(D(x1),D(x2)). These two inequalities, together, represent a
non-classicality condition. Our measurements provide a direct way to
distinguish between quantum entanglement and classical correlation in
continuous variables for two-photons/two photons systems.Comment: We have changed Eq.(2) from one inequality to two inequalities. The
two expressions are actually consistent with each other, but the new one
represents a more stringent condition for entanglement and, in our opinion,
better explains the original idea of EPR. We have clarified this point in the
paper. 4 pages; submitted to PR
Twin-photon techniques for photo-detector calibration
The aim of this review paper is to enlighten some recent progresses in
quantum optical metrology in the part of quantum efficiency measurements of
photo-detectors performed with bi-photon states. The intrinsic correlated
nature of entangled photons from Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion
phenomenon has opened wide horizons to a new approach for the absolute
measurement of photo-detector quantum efficiency, outgoing the requirement for
conventional standards of optical radiation; in particular the simultaneous
feature of the creation of conjugated photons led to a well known technique of
coincidence measurement, deeply understood and implemented for standard uses.
On the other hand, based on manipulation of entanglement developed for Quantum
Information protocols implementations, a new method has been proposed for
quantum efficiency measurement, exploiting polarisation entanglement in
addition to energy-momentum and time ones, that is based on conditioned
polarisation state manipulation. In this review, after a general discussion on
absolute photo-detector calibration, we compare these different methods, in
order to give an accurate operational sketch of the absolute quantum efficiency
measurement state of the art
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