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Soviet Journal of Quantum Electronics

Efficient generator of a two-photon field of visible radiation

A A Malygin, Александр Николаевич Пенин, Alexander V. Sergienko

Published Jul 31, 1981• 15 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A description is given of an optimal system for parametric conversion of one-photon light into a two-photon field. This system is suitable for absolute calibration of photodetectors throughout the visible range without the use of a standard source for comparison. Tuning curves of such a parametric converter are calculated and verified experimentally. The efficiency achieved in this method of generation of a two-photon field (10 6 of two-photon pairs per second in a spectral band Δ ν = 10 cm −1 wide) makes it possible to calibrate photodetectors to within at least 3–4% after accumulation of a signal for a time of the order of 100 sec.

DOI
10.1070/qe1981v011n07abeh007269

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A description is given of a method for calibrating photodetectors based on some characteristics of the statistics of the field of spontaneous parametric light scattering. A phenomenological theory of parametric scattering is used to demonstrate that photons are only emitted in pairs. It is shown that, in principle, a priori information on the two-photon character and directionality of parametrically scattered light can be used for absolute calibration of photodetectors operated both in the analog linear regime and in the discrete photoelectron pulse counting regime.
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.
The quantum phenomena of parametric down conversion have been used for absolute measurement of the photodetector quantum efficiency of ultra-low-light radiation ranging from 10-12 to 10-15 W, which is equivalent to photon fluxes of 107 to 104 s-1. The process of parametric down conversion gives rise to highly correlated (in time and space) photon flux pairs. We describe the method, experimental investigation, and a new device involving the measurement of the coincidence rate of photodetection of these two correlated beams of light. The coincidence is lowered by a nonunit quantum efficiency of either detection. This fact was used for the definition of the absolute value of both photodetector's quantum efficiencies.