Quantum Random Number Generator using Photon-Number Path Entanglement

We report a novel quantum random number generator based on the photon-number$-$path entangled state which is prepared via two-photon quantum interference at a beam splitter. The randomness in our scheme is of truly quantum mechanical origin as it comes from the projection measurement of the entangled two-photon state. The generated bit sequences satisfy the standard randomness test

Don’t Panic: The Academic Librarian’s Guide to Building an ACRL Framework Community of Practice

The information literacy universe has evolved since the release of the ACRL Information Literacy Framework, leaving some librarians feeling lost in space. Whether you view the Framework as the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, or see it as merely mostly harmless--building a community of practice will enable you to navigate new galaxies with confidence. Though you might feel like you’re floating in a most peculiar way, this workshop will help you grab hold of the controls, develop a plan for ongoing learning, and launch into your own Framework community of practice

Finding Common Ground: Creating Community & Connections around Information Literacy

How can school media specialists, technology specialists, and academic librarians collaborate to build students’ college readiness and support lifelong information literacy learning? The development of the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards Framework for Learners provides new opportunities for school and academic librarians to find common ground. In this session, three current and former chairs of the Minnesota Library Association Instruction Roundtable will explore connections between these two guiding documents and the ways in which they approach information literacy. Building on these connections, presenters will offer practical strategies for engaging in ongoing professional development and building communities of practice around the ACRL and AASL Frameworks

Finding Expertise in Your Own Backyard: Creating Communities of Practice to Support Learning about the Framework

This chapter will focus on successful strategies for creating ongoing professional development opportunities and building communities of practice around the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Drawing on the authors’ experiences developing free and low-cost opportunities for Framework-related professional development as former co-chairs of the Minnesota Library Association Instruction Roundtable (IRT), our case study will demonstrate that many barriers to Framework-related professional development can be overcome by leveraging expertise from communities of practice and taking a user-centered approach to design. Using the 23 Framework Things program and interviews with program participants, we will highlight how the design and content of Framework-related professional development can draw on the learning theories that inform the Framework itself, be accessible to a wide range of audiences and local contexts by employing a flexible structure and provide a forum for librarians engaging in collaborative learning

Photon number resolution using a time-multiplexed single-photon detector

Photon number resolving detectors are needed for a variety of applications including linear-optics quantum computing. Here we describe the use of time-multiplexing techniques that allows ordinary single photon detectors, such as silicon avalanche photodiodes, to be used as photon number-resolving detectors. The ability of such a detector to correctly measure the number of photons for an incident number state is analyzed. The predicted results for an incident coherent state are found to be in good agreement with the results of a proof-of-principle experimental demonstration.Comment: REVTeX4, 6 pages, 8 eps figures, v2: minor changes, v3: changes in response to referee report, appendix added, 1 reference adde

A high-yield single photon source using gated spontaneous parametric down conversion

The construction of a single photon source using gated parametric fluorescence is reported with the measurement results of the photon number distribution. A beamlike twin-photon method is used in order to achieve high collection efficiency. The estimated probability P(1) to find a single photon in a collimated output pulse is 26.5 % at a repetition rate of 10 kHz when the effective quantum efficiency of 27.4 % in the detection setup is compensated.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figure

Producing high fidelity single photons with optimal brightness via waveguided parametric down-conversion

Parametric down-conversion (PDC) offers the possibility to control the fabrication of non-Gaussian states such as Fock states. However, in conventional PDC sources energy and momentum conservation introduce strict frequency and photon number correlations, which impact the fidelity of the prepared state. In our work we optimize the preparation of single-photon Fock states from the emission of waveguided PDC via spectral filtering. We study the effect of correlations via photon number resolving detection and quantum interference. Our measurements show how the reduction of mixedness due to filtering can be evaluated. Interfering the prepared photon with a coherent state we establish an experimentally measured fidelity of the produced target state of 78%.Comment: 15 pages, 10 Figures, published versio

Observation of correlated-photon statistics using a single detector

We report experimental observations of correlated-photon statistics in the single-photon detection rate. The usual quantum interference in a two-photon polarization interferometer always accompanies a dip in the single detector counting rate, regardless of whether a dip or peak is seen in the coincidence rate. This effect is explained by taking into account all possible photon number states that reach the detector, rather than considering just the state post-selected by the coincidence measurement. We also report an interferometeric scheme in which the interference peak or dip in coincidence corresponds directly to a peak or dip in the single-photon detection rate.Comment: 4 pages, two-column (minor errors corrected.