Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1205.1969 · Optics Letters

Absolute detector calibration using twin beams

Jan Peřina, Ondřej Haderka, Václav Michálek, Martin Hamar

Published Jun 16, 2012• 44 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

A method for the determination of absolute quantum detection efficiency is suggested based on the measurement of photocount statistics of twin beams. The measured histograms of joint signal-idler photocount statistics allow us to eliminate an additional noise superimposed on an ideal calibration field composed of only photon pairs. This makes the method superior above other approaches presently used. Twin beams are described using a paired variant of quantum superposition of signal and noise.

DOI
10.1364/ol.37.002475

Related papers

Absolute spectral calibration of an intensified CCD camera using twin beams

Ondřej Haderka, Jan Peřina, Václav Michálek +1 more

Twin beams composed of photon pairs are used for absolute determination of quantum detection efficiency of an intensified CCD camera. A method of fitting the experimental photocount statistics with the paired superposition of signal and noise, combined with additional determination of losses in the beams before the detector, is used to reveal the detection efficiencies. The experiment has been performed in several spectral regions defined by the used interference filters. Also, the used twin beams have been reconstructed.

Journal of the Optical Society of America B•Aug 6, 2014•10 citations

Absolute calibration of photon-number-resolving detectors with an analog output using twin beams

Jan Peřina, Ondřej Haderka, Alessia Allevi +1 more

A method for absolute calibration of a photon-number resolving detector producing analog signals as the output is developed using a twin beam. The method gives both analog-to-digital conversion parameters and quantum detection efficiency for the photon fields. Characteristics of the used twin beam are also obtained. A simplified variant of the method applicable to fields with high signal to noise ratios and suitable for more intense twin beams is suggested.

arXiv:1401.6071•Applied Physics Letters•Jan 27, 2014•28 citations

Photon-number statistics of twin beams: Self-consistent measurement, reconstruction, and properties

Jan Peřina, Ondřej Haderka, Václav Michálek

A method for the determination of photon-number statistics of twin beams using the joint signal-idler photocount statistics obtained by an iCCD camera is described. It also provides absolute quantum detection efficiency of the camera. Using the measured photocount statistics, quasi-distributions of integrated intensities are obtained. They attain negative values occurring in characteristic strips an a consequence of pairing of photons in twin beams.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2014•0 citations

Absolute efficiency estimation of photon-number-resolving detectors using twin beams

A. P. Worsley, Hendrik B. Coldenstrodt-Ronge, Jeff S. Lundeen +5 more

A nonclassical light source is used to demonstrate experimentally the absolute efficiency calibration of a photon-number-resolving detector. The photon-pair detector calibration method developed by Klyshko for single-photon detectors is generalized to take advantage of the higher dynamic range and additional information provided by photon-number-resolving detectors. This enables the use of brighter twin-beam sources including amplified pulse pumped sources, which increases the relevant signal and provides measurement redundancy, making the calibration more robust.

arXiv:0906.2182•Optics Express•Mar 4, 2009•45 citations

Reconstruction of Joint Photon-Number Distributions of Twin Beams Incorporating Spatial Noise Reduction

Jan Peřina, Václav Michálek, Ondřej Haderka

Photons in twin beams exhibit correlations in both photon number and spatial detection position. Here spatial correlations in detection positions are exploited to develop a method for reconstructing the joint photon-number distribution of a twin beam from the experimental photocount histograms. This considerably reduces experimental noise, making it superior to the usual methods. This practical reconstruction method for spatially resolved photon counting is suitable for any application that requires joint photon-number distributions of twin beams, in $e.g.$ metrology, or future quantum communication protocols.

arXiv:1812.03470•Physical Review Applied•Dec 21, 2018•3 citations

Absolute self-calibration of single-photon detectors with cw and pulsed spontaneous parametric down-conversion

Ling-An Wu, Xi-Hao Chen, Yanhua Zhai +2 more

Single-photon detectors are of great importance in spectroscopy, laser ranging, astronomy and wherever weak light detection is required, so a precise knowledge of their quantum efficiency is essential, but their calibration is by no means trivial. Traditional methods need a black body radiation source or a highly attenuated laser beam as a reference standard, or an already calibrated reference detector. It is well known that absolute measurement of the quantum efficiency, absolute in the sense that the calibration is independent of any radiometric standard or the properties of another detector, can be performed using entangled twin photons generated in optical spontaneous parametric down-conversion together with a reference detector. We have performed the first proof-of-principle experiment to determine the quantum efficiency by which no second detector or reference standard is required. This absolute self-calibration method is also based on the time correlation of photons emitted in parametric down-conversion, but with the introduction of a suitable time delay between the arrival times of the twin photons. Furthermore, we describe a scheme for absolute self-calibration of the quantum efficiency at different wavelengths by means of a pulsed source of nondegenerate down-converted photons. This method should have even greater potential for applications.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Aug 31, 2006•0 citations
A method for the determination of absolute quantum detection efficiency is suggested based on the measurement of photocount statistics of twin beams. The measured histograms of joint signal-idler photocount statistics allow us to eliminate an additional noise superimposed on an ideal calibration field composed of only photon pairs. This makes the method superior above other approaches presently used. Twin beams are described using a paired variant of quantum superposition of signal and noise.
Twin beams composed of photon pairs are used for absolute determination of quantum detection efficiency of an intensified CCD camera. A method of fitting the experimental photocount statistics with the paired superposition of signal and noise, combined with additional determination of losses in the beams before the detector, is used to reveal the detection efficiencies. The experiment has been performed in several spectral regions defined by the used interference filters. Also, the used twin beams have been reconstructed.
A nonclassical light source is used to demonstrate experimentally the absolute efficiency calibration of a photon-number-resolving detector. The photon-pair detector calibration method developed by Klyshko for single-photon detectors is generalized to take advantage of the higher dynamic range and additional information provided by photon-number-resolving detectors. This enables the use of brighter twin-beam sources including amplified pulse pumped sources, which increases the relevant signal and provides measurement redundancy, making the calibration more robust.
Photons in twin beams exhibit correlations in both photon number and spatial detection position. Here spatial correlations in detection positions are exploited to develop a method for reconstructing the joint photon-number distribution of a twin beam from the experimental photocount histograms. This considerably reduces experimental noise, making it superior to the usual methods. This practical reconstruction method for spatially resolved photon counting is suitable for any application that requires joint photon-number distributions of twin beams, in e.g.e.g.e.g. metrology, or future quantum communication protocols.
Single-photon detectors are of great importance in spectroscopy, laser ranging, astronomy and wherever weak light detection is required, so a precise knowledge of their quantum efficiency is essential, but their calibration is by no means trivial. Traditional methods need a black body radiation source or a highly attenuated laser beam as a reference standard, or an already calibrated reference detector. It is well known that absolute measurement of the quantum efficiency, absolute in the sense that the calibration is independent of any radiometric standard or the properties of another detector, can be performed using entangled twin photons generated in optical spontaneous parametric down-conversion together with a reference detector. We have performed the first proof-of-principle experiment to determine the quantum efficiency by which no second detector or reference standard is required. This absolute self-calibration method is also based on the time correlation of photons emitted in parametric down-conversion, but with the introduction of a suitable time delay between the arrival times of the twin photons. Furthermore, we describe a scheme for absolute self-calibration of the quantum efficiency at different wavelengths by means of a pulsed source of nondegenerate down-converted photons. This method should have even greater potential for applications.