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Optics Express

Spontaneous parametric down conversion in a nanophotonic waveguide

S. M. Spillane, Marco Fiorentino B, Raymond G. Beausoleil

Published Jan 1, 2007• 28 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Recently, we verified that spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) is enhanced in a waveguide, in agreement with theory showing an inverse dependence on mode confinement [1]. Here we investigate highly-confined nanophotonic waveguides designed to maximize the SPDC rate. A theory modified to include highly-confined waveguides is used to calculate the spectral width and pair generation rates in a sample system. Pair generation rates exceeding 10(9)/sec/nm/mW are predicted for periodically-poled KTP (PPKTP) nanophotonic waveguides. This results in an enhancement of the downconverted signal power greater than 45x that of low-index-contrast PPKTP waveguides and greater than 6500x that of bulk PPKTP crystals.

DOI
10.1364/oe.15.008770

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Recently, we verified that spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) is enhanced in a waveguide, in agreement with theory showing an inverse dependence on mode confinement [1]. Here we investigate highly-confined nanophotonic waveguides designed to maximize the SPDC rate. A theory modified to include highly-confined waveguides is used to calculate the spectral width and pair generation rates in a sample system. Pair generation rates exceeding 10(9)/sec/nm/mW are predicted for periodically-poled KTP (PPKTP) nanophotonic waveguides. This results in an enhancement of the downconverted signal power greater than 45x that of low-index-contrast PPKTP waveguides and greater than 6500x that of bulk PPKTP crystals.
Spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) using periodically poled nonlinear optical crystals under the quasiphase- matching condition has found wide use in quantum optics. High efficiencies and good coupling to single-mode fibers resulted from using channel waveguides in crystals. It is often desirable to have a very narrow bandwidth for the signal and idler photons, but under the typical operating conditions, phase matching dictates the bandwidth of the SPDC to be of the order of <1 nm. This occurs because the co-propagating signal and idler photons are entangled, and an increase of the signal wave-vector is compensated by a decrease of the idler wave-vector. One way to reduce the bandwidth is by forming either external or internal cavities. Additionally, bandwidth reduction is possible without cavities when the signal and idler are counter-propagating, and the changes in the wave-vector with frequency are additive. To accomplish this a domain inversion on the wavelength scale is required. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate SPDC in one-dimensional KTP-based waveguides with sub-micron poling for forward and backward interactions. Some of the spectral features of the generated light are accounted for by mode coupling theory in periodically poled waveguides but other features are as yet not explained.
The properties of the backward-wave spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in a periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguide are studied in the context of creating narrowband heralded sources of single-photon states. The effective index of refraction and spatial profile of different waveguide modes, efficiency of different SPDC processes and purity of heralded photons are calculated numerically for a given waveguide. Compared to the usual co-propagating SPDC, spectral narrowing of the backward- wave SPDC was observed as should be expected.
We design and fabricate shallow-etched periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides to realize highly efficient broadband spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) on nanophotonic chips. The shallow-etched waveguide can tolerate the non-uniformities of waveguide width induced by fabrication imperfections, enabling the generation of photon pairs with high count rate and bandwidth. We demonstrate photon-pair generation with a high brightness of 11.7 GHz/mW and bandwidth of 22 THz in a 5.7-mm-long PPLN waveguide. The generated photon pairs exhibit a strong temporal correlation with a coincidence-to-accidental ratio of up to 16262±850. Our results confirm the feasibility of shallow etching in the fabrication of an efficient SPDC device on the platform of lithium niobate on an insulator, and benefit quantum information processing with a broadband photon source.
The properties of the backward-wave spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in a periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) waveguide are studied in the context of creating narrowband heralded sources of single-photon states. The effective index of refraction and spatial profile of different waveguide modes, efficiency of different SPDC processes and purity of heralded photons are calculated numerically for a given waveguide. Compared to the usual co-propagating SPDC, spectral narrowing of the backward-wave SPDC was observed as should be expected. Generation biphoton states in backward-wave regime is experimentally observed in two-photon detection scheme.
As optical quantum information processing protocols and experiments become increasingly more complex, integrated optics provide a small and robust alternative to traditional bulk optics. Specifically, waveguide technology allows for the creation of bright single-photon sources based on the fact that photon pairs can be created at any location along the waveguide. For our goals, we are working on the characterization of a highly nondegenerate Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC) waveguide source on a periodically poled KTP (PPKTP) crystal. Our current waveguide source uses type-II phase-matching to create collinear signal and idler photons at 1550 nm and 810 nm, respectively, with the promise of generating simultaneous time-bin and polarization entanglement in future iterations. Our intended source application is for use in quantum key distribution and superdense teleportation protocols between a space platform and collection telescopes on Earth.