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

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE

Controlling the interference of single photons emitted by independent atomic sources

Alessandro Ceré, Victor Leong, Sandoko Kosen, Bharath Srivathsan, Gurpreet Kaur Gulati, Christian Kurtsiefer

Published Sep 1, 2015• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between independent sources is a fundamental primitive of many quantum communication and computation protocols. We present a study of the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of single photons generated via two different physical processes by two independent atomic systems: scattering by a single atom, and parametric generation via four-wave mixing in a cloud of cold atoms. By controlling the coherence time and central frequency of the heralded single photons generated by four-wave mixing we observe quantum beat and a varying degree of interference.

DOI
10.1117/12.2196246

Related papers

Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference Between Triggered And Heralded Single Photons From Separate Atomic Systems

Alessandro Ceré, Victor Leong, Gurpreet Kaur Gulati +3 more

We present Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of single photons generated via two different physical processes by two independent atomic systems: scattering by a single atom, and parametric generation via four-wave mixing in a cloud of cold atoms. Without any spectral filtering, we observe a visibility of V = 62± 4%. After correcting for accidental coincidences, we obtain V = 93± 6%. The observed interference demonstrates the compatibility of the two sources, forming the basis for an efficient quantum interface between different physical systems.

Bulletin of the American Physical Society•Jun 10, 2015•3 citations

Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between triggered and heralded single photons from separate atomic systems

Victor Leong, Sandoko Kosen, Bharath Srivathsan +3 more

We present Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of single photons generated via two different physical processes by two independent atomic systems: scattering by a single atom, and parametric generation via four-wave mixing in a cloud of cold atoms. Without any spectral filtering, we observe a visibility of $V=62\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4%$. After correcting for accidental coincidences, we obtain $V=93\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6%$. The observed interference demonstrates the compatibility of the two sources, forming the basis for an efficient quantum interface between different physical systems.

arXiv:1504.00818•Physical Review A•Jun 24, 2015•16 citations

Temporal Purity and Quantum Interference of Single Photons from Two Independent Cold Atomic Ensembles

Peng Qian, Zhenjie Gu, Rong Cao +4 more

The temporal purity of single photons is crucial to the indistinguishability of independent photon sources for the fundamental study of the quantum nature of light and the development of photonic technologies. Currently, the technique for single photons heralded from time-frequency entangled biphotons created in nonlinear crystals does not guarantee the temporal-quantum purity, except using spectral filtering. Nevertheless, an entirely different situation is anticipated for narrow-band biphotons with a coherence time far longer than the time resolution of a single-photon detector. Here we demonstrate temporally pure single photons with a coherence time of 100 ns, directly heralded from the time-frequency entangled biphotons generated by spontaneous four-wave mixing in cold atomic ensembles, without any supplemented filters or cavities. A near-perfect purity and indistinguishability are both verified through Hong-Ou-Mandel quantum interference using single photons from two independent cold atomic ensembles. The time-frequency entanglement provides a route to manipulate the pure temporal state of the single-photon source.

Physical Review Letters•Jul 1, 2016•41 citations

High visibility Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between independent single photon sources obtained from multistage nonlinear interferometers

Jiamin Li, Jie Su, Liang Cui +2 more

Using spontaneous four-wave mixing in a 3-stage nonlinear interferometer for temporal mode shaping, we efficiently generate heralded single photons in single-mode, evidenced by a visibility of 90% in Hong–Ou–Mandel interference between independent sources.

Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics•Jan 1, 2019•1 citation

Temporal interference with frequency-controllable long photons from independent cold atomic sources

Peng Qian, Zhenjie Gu, Rong Wen +2 more

The interference of single photons from independent sources is an essential tool in quantum information processing. However, the interfering of photons with long temporal states in a time-resolved manner has rarely been studied. This is because without transmitting spectral filters or coupling to a cavity mode single photons generated in traditional nonlinear crystals suffer from a short temporal profile below 1 ns. With spectral correlation maintained in the biphotons generated from spontaneous four-wave mixing process in cold atom clouds, here we demonstrate the temporal interference of two frequency-tunable long photons from two independent cold atomic sources. We observe and analyze the interference of frequency-mismatched photons, where the phenomenon of the quantum beat at megahertz separation is displayed. Our paper provides more details for the quantum beat of two independent narrow-band single photons, which may find potential application in frequency-encoded photonic qubits in quantum information processing.

Physical Review A•Jan 4, 2018•5 citations

The Hong–Ou–Mandel Effect With Atoms

Adam M. Kaufman, Malte C. Tichy, Florian Mintert +2 more

Controlling light at the level of individual photons has led to advances in fields ranging from quantum information and precision sensing to fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. A central development that followed the advent of single-photon sources was the observation of the Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) effect, a novel two-photon path interference phenomenon experienced by indistinguishable photons. The effect is now a central technique in the field of quantum optics, harnessed for a variety of applications such as diagnosing single-photon sources and creating probabilistic entanglement in linear quantum computing. Recently, several distinct experiments using atomic sources have realized the requisite control to observe and exploit Hong–Ou–Mandel interference of atoms. This chapter provides a summary of this phenomenon and discusses some of its implications for atomic systems. Transitioning from the domain of photons to atoms opens new perspectives on fundamental concepts, such as the classification of entanglement of identical particles. It aids in the design of novel probes of quantities such as entanglement entropy by combining well-established tools of AMO physics—unity single-atom detection, tunable interactions, and scalability—with the Hong–Ou–Mandel interference. Furthermore, it is now possible for established protocols in the photon community, such as measurement-induced entanglement, to be employed in atomic experiments that possess deterministic single-particle production and detection. Hence, the realization of the HOM effect with atoms represents a productive union of central ideas in quantum control of atoms and photons.

arXiv:1801.04670•Advances in atomic, molecular, and optical physics•Jan 1, 2018•27 citations
Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between independent sources is a fundamental primitive of many quantum communication and computation protocols. We present a study of the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of single photons generated via two different physical processes by two independent atomic systems: scattering by a single atom, and parametric generation via four-wave mixing in a cloud of cold atoms. By controlling the coherence time and central frequency of the heralded single photons generated by four-wave mixing we observe quantum beat and a varying degree of interference.
We present Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of single photons generated via two different physical processes by two independent atomic systems: scattering by a single atom, and parametric generation via four-wave mixing in a cloud of cold atoms. Without any spectral filtering, we observe a visibility of V = 62± 4%. After correcting for accidental coincidences, we obtain V = 93± 6%. The observed interference demonstrates the compatibility of the two sources, forming the basis for an efficient quantum interface between different physical systems.
We present Hong-Ou-Mandel interference of single photons generated via two different physical processes by two independent atomic systems: scattering by a single atom, and parametric generation via four-wave mixing in a cloud of cold atoms. Without any spectral filtering, we observe a visibility of $V=62\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4%$. After correcting for accidental coincidences, we obtain $V=93\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6%$. The observed interference demonstrates the compatibility of the two sources, forming the basis for an efficient quantum interface between different physical systems.
The temporal purity of single photons is crucial to the indistinguishability of independent photon sources for the fundamental study of the quantum nature of light and the development of photonic technologies. Currently, the technique for single photons heralded from time-frequency entangled biphotons created in nonlinear crystals does not guarantee the temporal-quantum purity, except using spectral filtering. Nevertheless, an entirely different situation is anticipated for narrow-band biphotons with a coherence time far longer than the time resolution of a single-photon detector. Here we demonstrate temporally pure single photons with a coherence time of 100 ns, directly heralded from the time-frequency entangled biphotons generated by spontaneous four-wave mixing in cold atomic ensembles, without any supplemented filters or cavities. A near-perfect purity and indistinguishability are both verified through Hong-Ou-Mandel quantum interference using single photons from two independent cold atomic ensembles. The time-frequency entanglement provides a route to manipulate the pure temporal state of the single-photon source.
The interference of single photons from independent sources is an essential tool in quantum information processing. However, the interfering of photons with long temporal states in a time-resolved manner has rarely been studied. This is because without transmitting spectral filters or coupling to a cavity mode single photons generated in traditional nonlinear crystals suffer from a short temporal profile below 1 ns. With spectral correlation maintained in the biphotons generated from spontaneous four-wave mixing process in cold atom clouds, here we demonstrate the temporal interference of two frequency-tunable long photons from two independent cold atomic sources. We observe and analyze the interference of frequency-mismatched photons, where the phenomenon of the quantum beat at megahertz separation is displayed. Our paper provides more details for the quantum beat of two independent narrow-band single photons, which may find potential application in frequency-encoded photonic qubits in quantum information processing.
Controlling light at the level of individual photons has led to advances in fields ranging from quantum information and precision sensing to fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. A central development that followed the advent of single-photon sources was the observation of the Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) effect, a novel two-photon path interference phenomenon experienced by indistinguishable photons. The effect is now a central technique in the field of quantum optics, harnessed for a variety of applications such as diagnosing single-photon sources and creating probabilistic entanglement in linear quantum computing. Recently, several distinct experiments using atomic sources have realized the requisite control to observe and exploit Hong–Ou–Mandel interference of atoms. This chapter provides a summary of this phenomenon and discusses some of its implications for atomic systems. Transitioning from the domain of photons to atoms opens new perspectives on fundamental concepts, such as the classification of entanglement of identical particles. It aids in the design of novel probes of quantities such as entanglement entropy by combining well-established tools of AMO physics—unity single-atom detection, tunable interactions, and scalability—with the Hong–Ou–Mandel interference. Furthermore, it is now possible for established protocols in the photon community, such as measurement-induced entanglement, to be employed in atomic experiments that possess deterministic single-particle production and detection. Hence, the realization of the HOM effect with atoms represents a productive union of central ideas in quantum control of atoms and photons.