A Molecule‐Based Single‐Photon Source Applied in Quantum Radiometry

Single photon sources (SPSs) based on quantum emitters hold promise in quantum radiometry as metrology standard for photon fluxes at the low light level. Ideally this requires control over the photon flux in a wide dynamic range, sub-Poissonian photon statistics and narrow-band emission spectrum. In this work, a monochromatic single-photon source based on an organic dye molecule is presented, whose photon flux is traceably measured to be adjustable between 144 000 and 1320 000 photons per second at a wavelength of (785.6 +/- 0.1) nm, corresponding to an optical radiant flux between 36.5 fW and 334 fW. The high purity of the single-photon stream is verified, with a second-order autocorrelation function at zero time delay below 0.1 throughout the whole range. Featuring an appropriate combination of emission properties, the molecular SPS shows here application in the calibration of a silicon Single-Photon Avalanche Detector (SPAD) against a low-noise analog silicon photodiode traceable to the primary standard for optical radiant flux (i.e. the cryogenic radiometer). Due to the narrow bandwidth of the source, corrections to the SPAD detection efficiency arising from the spectral power distribution are negligible. With this major advantage, the developed device may finally realize a low-photon-flux standard source for quantum radiometry

Revisiting the limits of photon momentum based optical power measurement method, employing the case of multi-reflected laser beam

In this work, we review the viability and precision of the photon-momentum-based optical power measurement method that employs an amplification effect caused by a multi-reflected laser beam trapped in an optical cavity. Measuring the total momentum transfer of the absorbed and re-emitted photons from a highly reflective surface (reflection of the laser beam from an optical mirror) as a force provides the possibility of measuring the optical power with direct traceability to SI units. Trial measurements were performed at two different metrology laboratories: the laboratory for mass/force at the Technical University of Ilmenau, and the clean room laser radiometry laboratory at PTB, with a portable force measurement setup consisting of two electromagnetic force compensation balances. We compared the results of the optical power measurements performed with the force measurement setup, via the photon-momentum-based method, with those performed using a calibrated reference standard detector traceable to PTB's primary standard for optical power, the cryogenic radiometer. The comparison was carried out for an optical power range between 1 W and 10 W at a wavelength of 532 nm, which corresponds to a force of approximately 2000 nN at the upper limit, yielding approximately 2.3% relative standard uncertainty in the case of 33 reflections. Thus, conflating the high-precision force metrology technique at [my]N to nN levels with the optical setup required to achieve specular multi-reflection configuration of the laser beam, where a macroscopic optical cavity with ultra-high reflective mirrors (>99.995%) can adjustably be suspended from the force sensors, depending on required geometry of reflections, we show that the uncertainty of the optical power measurements upon further increase of the nominally applied optical power, the number of laser beam reflections, or the reflectivity coefficient of the mirrors can be markedly reduced

Radiometric characterization of a triggered narrow-bandwidth single-photon source and its use for the calibration of silicon single-photon avalanche detectors

The traceability of measurements of the parameters characterizing single-photon sources, such as photon flux and optical power, paves the way towards their reliable comparison and quantitative evaluation. In this paper, we present an absolute measurement of the optical power of a single-photon source based on an InGaAs quantum dot under pulsed excitation with a calibrated single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector. For this purpose, a single excitonic line of the quantum dot emission with a bandwidth below 0.1 nm was spectrally filtered by using two tilted interference filters. Since high count rates are essential for many metrological applications, we optimized the setup efficiency by combining high overall transmission of the optical components with a geometrical enhancement of the extraction efficiency of a single quantum dot by a monolithic microlens to reach photon fluxes up to 3.7 * 10^5 photons per second at the SPADs. A relative calibration of two SPAD detectors with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.7% was carried out and verified by the standard calibration method using an attenuated laser. Finally, an Allan deviation analysis was performed giving an optimal averaging time of 92 s for the photon flux.DFG, 232645976, GRK 1952: Metrologie komplexer Nanosysteme - NanoMetDFG, 390837967, EXC 2123: QuantumFrontiers - Licht und Materie an der Quantengrenz

Single photon sources for quantum radiometry: a brief review about the current state-of-the-art

Single-photon sources have a variety of applications. One of these is quantum radiometry, which is reported on in this paper in the form of an overview, specifically of the current state of the art in the application of deterministic single photon sources to the calibration of single photon detectors. To optimize single-photon sources for this purpose, extensive research is currently carried out at the European National Metrology Institutes (NMIs), in collaboration with partners from universities. Single-photon sources of different types are currently under investigation, including sources based on defect centres in (nano-)diamonds, on molecules and on semiconductor quantum dots. We will present, summarise, and compare the current results obtained at European NMIs for single-photon sources in terms of photon flux, single-photon purity, and spectral power distribution as well as the results of single-photon detector calibrations carried out with this type of light sources.DFG, 390837967, EXC 2123: QuantumFrontiers - Licht und Materie an der Quantengrenz

Einführung in die Metrologie des Lichtes

PTB-Mitteilungen. Band 125 (2015), Heft 4, Seite 3. ISSN 0030-834