We show a setup for characterising the efficiency of a single-photon-detector absolutely and with a precision better than 1%. Since the setup does not rely on calibrated devices and can be implemented with standard-optic components, it can be realised in any laboratory. Our approach is based on an Erbium-Doped-Fiber-Amplifier (EDFA) radiometer as a primary measurement standard for optical power, and on an ultra-stable source of spontaneous emission. As a proof of principle, we characterise the efficiency of an InGaAs/InP single-photon detector. We verified the correctness of the characterisation with independent measurements. In particular, the measurement of the optical power made with the EDFA radiometer has been compared to that of the Federal Institute of Metrology using a transfer power meter. Our approach is suitable for frequent characterisations of high-efficient single-photon detectors.
We show a setup for characterising the efficiency of a single-photon-detector absolutely and with a precision better than 1%. Since the setup does not rely on calibrated devices and can be implemented with standard-optic components, it can be realised in any laboratory. Our approach is based on an Erbium-Doped-Fiber-Amplifier (EDFA) radiometer as a primary measurement standard for optical power, and on an ultra-stable source of spontaneous emission. As a proof of principle, we characterise the efficiency of an InGaAs/InP single-photon detector. We verified the correctness of the characterisation with independent measurements. In particular, the measurement of the optical power made with the EDFA radiometer has been compared to that of the Federal Institute of Metrology using a transfer power meter. Our approach is suitable for frequent characterisations of high-efficient single-photon detectors.
A system for calibrating single photon detector efficiency that is traceable to the SI through a state-of-the-art classical optical fibre radiometer has been developed and is in the process of being vetted as a calibration service at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The method of calibration is direct substitution to power meters relative to NIST's optical fibre cryogenic primary standard and builds on the existing measurement infrastructure for the calibration of optical fibre power meters. Recent improvements to the optical fibre cryogenic radiometer make it more robust and deployable. The traceability of the single photon detector calibration service under development to these classical measurements is discussed, along with a description of the technique used in this calibration service to calibrate the detection efficiency of single photon detectors. Finally, we discuss work on the development of these technologies so that in the future they may be deployable to the point-of- use.
Calibration of fiber-coupled single-photon detectors usually requires knowledge of the input photon flux inside the fiber and/or knowledge of the linearity of a reference power meter. Many approaches have been presented in the past to accurately measure the photon detection probability of a single photon detector [1-6]. Under certain assumptions, one can utilize waveguide-coupled single photon detectors and a series of photon-counting measurements and a single-photon source to calibrate the detection efficiency of a single photon detector without the need of a reference power meter and the knowledge of the incoming photon flux. Here, this method is presented. Furthermore, if a reference detector is used, the detection efficiency of all evanescently coupled waveguide detectors can be measured, and the measurement outcome does not depend on splicing or fiber connection losses within in the setup, i.e., the measurement is setup-independent. In addition, the method, when using a reference detector, can be utilized to measure and distinguish between the absorption of a waveguide-coupled single photon detector and its internal detection efficiency. [1] A. J. Miller et al, Opt. Express 19, 9102–9110 (2011) [2] I. Muller et al., Metrologia 51, S329 (2014). [3] A. L. Migdall, Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on 50, 478–481 (2001). [4] S. V. Polyakov, A. L. Migdall, Optics Express 15, 1390–1407 (2007). [5] A. Avella et al., Optics Express 19, 23249–23257 (2011). [6] T. Lunghi et al., Opt. Express 22, 18078-18092 (2014)
InGaAs/InP single-photon detectors are today the most frequently used detectors for fibre-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) [1,2]. The performance of the QKD-systems greatly depends on the optical properties of its detector, such as quantum efficiency, dead time, dark counts, gating rate, etc., which need to be metrologically characterized to fully grantee the QKD network security. Therefore, several European National Metrological Institutes (NMIs) are putting today great efforts in developing novel measurement methods and calibration facilities, which allow to perform the traceable characterisation of single-photon detectors by using reference standards [3, 4]. From the metrological, and specifically radiometric, point of view, the detection efficiency of the single-photon detector is the main parameter that needs to be traceable to the primary standard for optical power (i.e. the cryogenic radiometer), which is maintained by most of the NMIs. Recently, four European NMIs have carried out a pilot comparison on the detection efficiency of a free-running InGaAs/InP single-photon detector, which main purpose has been to provide a snapshot of the measurement capabilities of the four European NMIs in the field of photon counting detection. The comparison was carried out in the framework of the EMPIR project 14IND05 “Optical metrology for quantum-enhanced secure telecommunication (MIQC2)” at the telecom wavelength of 1550 nm by using different reference standards with independently traceability chains. The results of this comparison, including the different experimental setups, the measurement methods, the traceability chain and the uncertainty evaluation of each participant, will be presented in this conference. References: [1] Akihisa Tomita, et al., “High speed quantum key distribution system”, Optical Fiber Technology, 16, Issue 1, 55-62 (2010). [2] Damien Stucki, et al., “Photon counting for quantum key distribution with peltier cooled InGaAs/InP APDs”, Journal of Modern Optics, 48, Issue 13, 1967-1981 (2001). [3] M. López, et al, “Detection efficiency calibration of single-photon silicon avalanche photodiodes traceable using double attenuator technique, Journal of Modern Optics 62, S21 – S27, 2015. [4] G. Porrovecchio, et al., “Comparison at the sub-100 fW optical power level of calibrating a single-photon detector using a high-sensitive, low-noise silicon photodiode and the double attenuator technique”, Metrologia 53, 1115-1122 (2016).
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.
We will present our current efforts on single photon quantum metrology using high-efficiency superconducting detectors and high-efficiency single-photon sources based on spontaneous parametric downconversion. Optical power measurements based on single photon counting could establish a quantum standard for optical power calibration in the future. At NIST we are pursuing the development of single photon sources and single photon detectors for metrology, quantum and classical applications. As part of these efforts, we are pursuing the establishment of a measurement service for the calibration of single photon detectors. We present how our calibration is tied to the calibration of our transfer standard optical fiber power meters. Using the beamsplitter method, we have implemented a fiber-coupled and free-space measurement system. Also, we have developed testbeds and measurement protocols for the characterization of single photon sources and single photon detectors. We will review several methods, which allow for the characterization of the spatial and spectral degree of freedom in spontaneous parametric downconversion.
Abstract A study of optical fibre power metre calibrations is presented based on comparison with fibre-coupled cryogenic radiometry. Three nearly identical cryogenic radiometers are used together with a free-space absolute spectral responsivity measurement facility. The results show that the dominant sources of uncertainty originate not from the radiometers or the transfer standard detector, but from the optical path components used to convey light from the source to the detector. The properties of the optical radiation, defined by wavelength, polarization, and modal quality, together with system components such as optical fibres, fibre switches, fibre splitters, polarization controllers, and external influences including temperature and vibration, limit the achievable uncertainty. Measurements are performed at optical power levels near 100 µW, a regime in which the underlying measurement technology has matured over several decades. The absolute uncertainty ranges from approximately 0.0010 A W −1 to 0.0043 A W −1 , depending on the wavelength and components. The results provide a quantitative basis for assessing the limits of uncertainty reduction in fibre-based optical power measurements and are relevant to future uncertainty analyses of fibre-coupled single-photon detector efficiency in quantum communications and quantum technologies in general.