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Electronics and Communications in Japan (Part II Electronics)

Single-photon generation using down converted photon-pairs at 1550 nm

Naoto Namekata, Shigehiko Mori, Masayuki Motoya, Keiichi Hirano, Shuichiro Inoue

Published Jan 19, 2006• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

On quantum communication technologies based on an optical fiber channel, for example a quantum key distribution, it is essential to generate a single photon and a correlated photon pair at telecom wavelength efficiently. We report on the single-photon generation at 1550 nm using photon pairs generated by the spontaneous parametric down-conversion. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 89(2): 8–18, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20227

DOI
10.1002/ecjb.20227

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On quantum communication technologies based on an optical fiber channel, for example a quantum key distribution, it is essential to generate a single photon and a correlated photon pair at telecom wavelength efficiently. We report on the single-photon generation at 1550 nm using photon pairs generated by the spontaneous parametric down-conversion. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 89(2): 8–18, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20227
Abstract Long‐distance communication is important for practical quantum key distribution. From the viewpoint of transmission distance, generation of single photons at 1550 nm is desirable for fiber transmission. Making use of parametric down‐conversion (signal and idler photons) as a single photon source for quantum key distribution can obtain communication distance longer than using a conventional weak coherent pulse. The reason for this is that the arrival time of the idler photon can be known by the detection of signal photon and therefore the dark count probability can be reduced by operating Bob's detector for a very short time around the photon arrival. In this paper, we report on the generation of the correlated photon pairs in the 1550‐nm band using a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide which has a high conversion efficiency. Our measurements are in agreement with a Poissonian photon‐pair distribution. We have deduced that the probability of multi‐photon‐pair generation is sufficiently reduced when the pump is lower than 5 µW with a repetition rate of 800 kHz. We also demonstrated a two‐photon interference experiment using a Mach‐Zehnder interferometer to confirm the quantum‐mechanical nature of the correlated photon pairs. We found that that visibility was decreased when the pump power was increased due to the multi‐photon‐pair contribution. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 88(11): 28–36, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20130
The generation of high purity single photons and entangled photon pairs is a crucial first step in many quantum optics experiments, including those that require quantum teleportation [1], entanglement swapping [2], and the generation of multi-photon entanglement [3]. The most widely used and established approach for creating photon pairs is spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) - where pump photons undergo a non-linear optical process to create a down-converted photon pair [4]. Traditionally, the generation of high-purity heralded single photons required severe spectral filtering, introducing additional loss. However, through careful engineering of spectral correlations of the down-converted photon pairs one can circumvent the need for filtering and avoid the accompanying reduction in heralding efficiency.
Abstract Single photon sources are key components for quantum technologies such as quantum communication, computing and metrology. A key challenge towards the realization of global quantum networks are transmission losses in optical fibers. Therefore, single photon sources are required to emit at the low-loss telecom wavelength bands. However, an ideal telecom wavelength single photon source has yet to be discovered. Here, we review the recent progress in realizing such sources. We start with single photon emission based on atomic ensembles and spontaneous parametric down conversion, and then focus on solid-state emitters including semiconductor quantum dots, defects in silicon carbide and carbon nanotubes. In conclusion, some state-of-the-art applications are highlighted.
Single photon sources are a key element for quantum computing, quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum communications. In particular, producing single photons at telecommunications wavelengths is valuable for QKD protocols and would enable realizing the quantum internet. The preferred method for their generation has long been spontaneous down conversion in bulk crystals, which suffers from connection loss to fiber networks. In-fiber spontaneous four-wave mixing provides a viable alternative as a photon pair source due to being compatible with existing fiber networks. We present an all-fiber photon pair source based on degenerate four-wave mixing in a 400 m Highly-Nonlinear fiber, with signal and idler wavelengths generated at 1552.5 nm and 1557 nm respectively. The source consists of CW pump laser operating at 1554.75 nm, which is slightly detuned from the zero group velocity dispersion wavelength into the normal dispersion regime. After pair generation in the highly-nonlinear fiber, three arrayed waveguide gratings are employed to spatially separate signal and idler, and provides a 120 dB pump power reduction. Firstly the source is modelled and experimentally characterized in the well known classical regime of stimulated four-wave mixing. The effect of fiber cooling on spontaneous Raman scattering is modelled and characterized, and a 30% reduction in spontaneous emission is found when cooling the fiber to -77°C. In the low power regime the coincidence to accidental count ratio is simulated and measured. An increase in the coincidence to accidental count ratio is observed when cooling the fiber.
We propose a point to point quantum channel based on a two-color Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion (SPDC), that may be applied for a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system to gain better security. We use one arm of the SPDC (770 nm - optimal for Si detection) and a Si counter at Alice's side to count the exact number of photons in each pulse. Whenever the arm contains exactly one photon, the correlated photon (1550nm - optimal for fiber transmission) in the other arm is sent via a fiber to Bob. In the experiment we used an Ar^{+} laser of 514.5nm wavelength and a BBO crystal to produce type-I photon pairs. We measured the spectrum of the SPDC and resolved specifically the 770 nm wavelength. The rate of correlated pairs (at 890-1050 nm) from our SPDC source was compared to a non-correlated source. We further developed an InGaAs single photon detector based on Geiger mode APD and achieved 10% quantum efficiency and 5 * 10^{-3} dark counts per 20nsec pulse at a temperature of -35 degrees Celsius.