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arXiv:1610.08326 · Nature Communications

Highly efficient frequency conversion with bandwidth compression of quantum light

Markus Allgaier, Vahid Ansari, Linda Sansoni, Christof Eigner, Viktor Quiring, Raimund Ricken, Georg Harder, Benjamin Brecht, Christine Silberhorn

Published Jan 30, 2017• 88 citations

Abstract

Hybrid quantum networks rely on efficient interfacing of dissimilar quantum nodes, as elements based on parametric downconversion sources, quantum dots, colour centres or atoms are fundamentally different in their frequencies and bandwidths. Although pulse manipulation has been demonstrated in very different systems, to date no interface exists that provides both an efficient bandwidth compression and a substantial frequency translation at the same time. Here we demonstrate an engineered sum-frequency-conversion process in lithium niobate that achieves both goals. We convert pure photons at telecom wavelengths to the visible range while compressing the bandwidth by a factor of 7.47 under preservation of non-classical photon-number statistics. We achieve internal conversion efficiencies of 61.5%, significantly outperforming spectral filtering for bandwidth compression. Our system thus makes the connection between previously incompatible quantum systems as a step towards usable quantum networks.

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14288

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For the realization of a hybrid quantum network, an efficient spectral mode matching between dissimilar photon sources is quintessential. With nonlinear frequency conversion it has already been shown it is possible to match central frequencies [1], but not spectral bandwidth. Previous experiments relied on passive filtering for bandwidth matching [2], [3] and were suffering from too high loss rates to allow for an efficient information transfer and processing between different quantum light sources. Promising results in spectral bandwidth conversion of quantum light have been shown by a phase-only reshaping approach using electro-optic time lensing [4], [5]. In close analogy to a thin lens in space, first a quadratic spectral phase

\phi

is applied, followed by, an again quadratic, temporal phase

\varphi

. By choosing the right collimation condition,

\phi=\varphi^{-1}

, compression (or expansion) is achieved in spectral width [6]. By this active reshaping of the spectral-temporal wave packet, for a quantum light source in telecom wavelength a compression factor of about 50 has already been shown [5].

We demonstrate a quantum interface that simultaneously converts the wavelength, bandwidth, and duration of single-photon-level pulses, enabling compatibility between disparate quantum systems. Using difference frequency generation in a lithium niobate waveguide driven by a highly chirped pump, we transform pulses from 798 nm, 5 GHz, 150 ps (quantum dot-like) to 1300 nm, 35 GHz, < 25 ps (telecom standard). This nonlinear optical time lens achieves over 80% internal conversion efficiency and compresses output pulses below detector resolution. The device offers a compact solution for integrating quantum emitters, memories, and telecom networks, with potential for further pulse shape control.

We demonstrate a quantum interface that simultaneously converts the wavelength, bandwidth, and duration of single-photon-level pulses, enabling compatibility between disparate quantum systems. Using difference frequency generation in a lithium niobate waveguide driven by a highly chirped pump, we transform pulses from 798 nm, 5 GHz, 150 ps (quantum dot-like) to 1300 nm, 35 GHz, < 25 ps (telecom standard). This nonlinear optical time lens achieves over 80% internal conversion efficiency and compresses output pulses below detector resolution. The device offers a compact solution for integrating quantum emitters, memories, and telecom networks, with potential for further pulse shape control.

Optical quantum network plays an important role in large scale quantum communication. However, different components for photon generation, transmission, storage and manipulation in network usually cannot interact directly due to the wavelength and bandwidth differences, and thus interfaces are needed to overcome such problems. We propose an optical interface for frequency down-conversion and bandwidth compression based on the counter-propagating quasi-phase-matching difference frequency generation process in the periodically-poled lithium niobate on insulator waveguide. We prove that a separable spectral transfer function can be obtained only by choosing proper pump bandwidth, thus relaxing the limitation of material, dispersion, and working wavelength as a result of the counter-propagation phase-matching configuration. With numerical simulations, we show that our design results in a nearly separable transfer function with the Schmidt number very close to 1. With proper pump bandwidth, an photon at central wavelength of 550 nm with a bandwidth ranging from 50 GHz to 5 THz can be converted to a photon at central wavelength of 1,545 nm with a much narrower bandwidth of 33 GHz.