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

Development of single-photon sources, detectors, spectrometers and interfaces for quantum communication systems

Oliver Slattery

Published Jan 1, 2015• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This thesis describes work on single-photon pair creation, entanglement and entanglement measurement; single-photon spectral narrowing for atomic interaction; and single-photon detection and spectral analysis. The systems developed exploit the interactions of light beams in non-linear crystal materials. Greatly non-degenerate time-bin entangled photon pair sources are implemented based on the quantum process of spontaneous-parametric-down-conversion. The non-degenerate wavelengths correspond to an atomic transition (895 nm) and a telecommunications band (1310 nm). Interference-fringe-visibilities of over 78% are achieved, verifying entanglement. An efficient and low-noise single-photon up-conversion detector based on sum-frequency-generation is implemented. Photons at 1310 nm are converted to the visible region and efficiently detected using a visible single-photon detector. An overall detection efficiency of over 32% is achieved with a dark-count noise rate of 2500 s-1. The detector is further developed to achieve an inter-symbol-interference free detection rate at twice the limit of the type of visible detector used. The detector is adapted into an up-conversion spectrometer for wavelengths near 1310 nm. A sensitivity of -126 dBm is achieved, corresponding to photon fluxes of approximately 500 s-1. The up-conversion spectrometer is further adapted for correlated biphoton spectroscopy by incorporating a frequency entangled and time correlated source. In this scheme, the spectral function near 895 nm of a remote object can be reproduced by locally measuring the 1310 nm with the up-conversion spectrometer and monitoring the coincidence detection rates. To achieve linewidths feasible for atomic interaction, a very narrow linewidth non-degenerate single-photon pair source is implemented based on spontaneous-parametric-down-conversion embedded in a singly-resonant cavity which is locked to and resonating at the frequency corresponding to a target atomic transition. Linewidths as narrow as 28 MHz are achieved. The brightness of the source within the modes is increased by two-orders compared to the single-pass implementations.

DOI
10.34961/10065

Related papers

Detection and spectral measurement of single photons in communication bands using up-conversion technology

Long Ma, Oliver Slattery, Xiao Hong Tang

Quantum information systems are commonly operated in conventional communication bands (1310 and 1550 nm) over an optical fiber to take advantage of low transmission loss. However, the detection and spectral measurement of single photons in these communication bands are limited due to high noise and low sensitivity of single photon detectors in the wavelength ranges. To demonstrate high efficiency detection and high sensitivity spectral measurement, we have implemented a single photon detector and a spectrometer based on frequency up-conversion technology. This detector and spectrometer uses a 5-cm periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide and a tunable pump laser around 1550 nm, to convert signal photons around 1310 to 710 nm. The converted photons are then detected by a silicon-based avalanche photodiode (APD). The overall detection efficiency of the single photon detector is as high as 32%, which is three times higher than commercial InGaAs APDs. The sensitivity of the spectrometer is measured to be −126 dBm, which is at least three orders-of-magnitude better than any commercial optical spectrum analyzer in this wavelength range.

Laser Physics•Apr 2, 2010•11 citations

Single photon frequency up-conversion and its applications

Lijun Ma, Oliver Slattery, Xiao Hong Tang

We have studied single photon level frequency up-conversion, and developed efficient single photon detectors and a highly sensitive spectrometer at a telecommunication wavelength (around 1310 nm). We have applied the detector and spectrometer to the implementation of a quantum key distribution system; to the characterization of an entangled photon source and a single photon source from quantum dots; to increase the temporal resolution of the single photon detector; and to study on high-order temporal correlation following frequency conversion. In this paper, we will present an overview on the frequency up-conversion technique and its applications in quantum information systems.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Sep 1, 2011•8 citations

Frequency-bin entanglement of ultra-narrow band non-degenerate photon pairs

Daniel Rieländer, Andreas Lenhard, Osvaldo Jime`nez Farìas +5 more

Abstract We demonstrate frequency-bin entanglement between ultra-narrowband photons generated by cavity enhanced spontaneous parametric down conversion. Our source generates photon pairs in widely non-degenerate discrete frequency modes, with one photon resonant with a quantum memory material based on praseodymium doped crystals and the other photon at telecom wavelengths. Correlations between the frequency modes are analyzed using phase modulators and narrowband filters before detection. We show high-visibility two photon interference between the frequency modes, allowing us to infer a coherent superposition of the modes. We develop a model describing the state that we create and use it to estimate optimal measurements to achieve a violation of the Clauser–Horne (CH) Bell inequality under realistic assumptions. With these settings we perform a Bell test and show a significant violation of the CH inequality, thus proving the entanglement of the photons. Finally we demonstrate the compatibility with a quantum memory material by using a spectral hole in the praseodymium (Pr) doped crystal as spectral filter for measuring high-visibility two-photon interference. This demonstrates the feasibility of combining frequency-bin entangled photon pairs with Pr-based solid state quantum memories.

arXiv:1707.02837•Quantum Science and Technology•Nov 2, 2017•25 citations

A Quantum Light Source for Light-matter Interaction

Xing Xing

I present in this thesis the design, implementation and measurement results of a narrowband quantum light source based on cavity-enhanced Parametric Down-Conversion\n(PDC). Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC) is the workhorse in the field of optical quantum information and quantum computation, yet it is not suitable for applications where deterministic nonlinearities are required due to its low spectral brightness. By\nplacing the nonlinear crystal inside a cavity, the spectrum of down-conversion is actively modified, such that all the non-resonant modes of down-conversion experience destructive interference, while the resonant mode sees constructive interference, resulting in great enhancement in spectral brightness. I design and construct such a cavity-enhanced down-conversion source with record high spectral brightness, making it possible to use cold atoms as the interaction medium to achieve large nonlinearity between photons. The frequency of the photons is tunable and their coherence time is measured to be on the order of 10 nanoseconds, matching the lifetime of the excited state of typical alkali atoms. I characterize extensively the output of the source by measuring the second-order correlation function, quantifying two-photon indistinguishability, performing quantum state tomography of entangled states, and showing different statistics of the source.\n\nThe unprecedented long coherence time of the photon pairs has also made possible the encoding of quantum information in the time domain of the photons. I present a theoretical proposal of multi-dimensional quantum information with such long-coherence-time photons and analyze its performance with realistic parameter settings. I implement this proposal with the quantum light source I have built, and show for the first time that a qutrit can be encoded in the time domain of the single photons. I demonstrate the coherence is preserved for the qutrit state, thus ruling out any classical probabilistic explanation of the experimental data. Such an encoding scheme provides an easy access to multi-dimensional systems and can be used as a versatile platform for many quantum information and quantum computation tasks.

•Aug 13, 2013•4 citations

NIR Single Photon Detectors with Up-Conversion Technology and its Applications in Quantum Communication Systems

Lijun Ma, Oliver Slattery, Xiao Hong Tang

Frequency up-conversion single photon detectors use the principle of sum frequency generation to up-convert single photons in the near IR range to a shorter wavelength for an efficient detection by low cost detectors, such as Si-APDs. The up-conversion detectors are usually operated at room temperature with high detection efficiency and a low dark count rate. The detectors have a very narrow acceptance spectral width and polarization sensitivity, properties that can be exploited in certain applications requiring narrow linewidth or polarization specific detection. These unique characteristics can be used to enhance system performance in some applications, including fiber-based quantum communications systems.

InTech eBooks•Apr 1, 2010•5 citations

Interfacing single ions and single photons for quantum networks

Carsten Schuck

Experiments in quantum optics are motivated by fundamental questions about the quantum mechanical description of matter and light as well as by applications in quantum technologies such as quantum information processing. Exploiting the quantum character of both matter and light has turned out to be extremely rewarding for novel technological applications in the emerging fields of quantum communication and computation. Here we consider the implementation of quantum information technology with trapped ions and single photons, focusing on two key issues: the entanglement of distant atoms and the controlled interaction of a single photon with a single atom. This thesis describes the construction of a double ion trap apparatus including the necessary frequency-stabilized laser systems, and first experiments to investigate the generation of distant atomic entanglement, the implementation of a simple quantum network and controlled single-atom single-photon interaction. The experimental setup comprises two ion traps at a distance of one meter, which are independent but identical in construction. We introduce novel realizations of a photoionization method for calcium atoms, a laser frequency stabilization scheme and a radio frequency pulse sequencer. Linear Paul traps are used to load individual or strings of calcium ions. High-numerical aperture objectives mounted on sub-micrometer positioning systems allow us to address and manipulate a single ion with strongly focused light fields and collect the emitted fluorescence photons from a large solid angle. With these bidirectional single-atom single-photon interfaces the essential building blocks of a quantum network with atoms and photons are available. One of the main objectives we pursue with the double-trap apparatus is the generation of entanglement between ions in different traps, which is one of the key tasks in a quantum network. We compare single- and two-photon schemes for probabilistic entanglement creation and analyze how the performance of the schemes depends on photon detection efficiency. As a first step towards the experimental realization of such schemes we measure the second order correlation function of fluorescence photons emitted from two distant trapped ions. We observe high-contrast quantum (Hong-Ou-Mandel) interference, proving the indistinguishability of photons emitted from different ions, which is a prerequisite for the considered entanglement schemes. To investigate the interaction of single photons and a single atom in free space we combine the ion trap apparatus with a tunable, narrowband spontaneous parametric down-conversion source. The high-numerical aperture objectives allow us to efficiently couple bandwidth-tunable photons to a single trapped ion. Such atom-photon interaction at the single-particle level is the most fundamental process in quantum optics and lies literally at the focus of many experimental implementations of quantum information processing protocols and of studies of the (quantum) limits of matter -light interaction, which were so far restricted to weak coherent light fields. Here we observe individual atomic absorption events of one photon of an entangled pair by employing a quantum jump detection scheme. To characterize and control the interaction process we modify the spectral properties of the down conversion photons and perform single-photon spectroscopy of a single ion. To go beyond experiments with cohe rent fields we study temporal correlations between the absorption of photons from the spontaneous parametric down conversion source by a single ion and the detection of the corresponding partner photon. For the applied scheme we observe promising indications that the quantum correlations of photons produced in spontaneous parametric down conversion are preserved in the resonant interaction with a single atom. The implementation of more efficient atom-light coupling and entanglement transfer schemes with our apparatus is outlined.

•Jan 1, 2010•3 citations
This thesis describes work on single-photon pair creation, entanglement and entanglement measurement; single-photon spectral narrowing for atomic interaction; and single-photon detection and spectral analysis. The systems developed exploit the interactions of light beams in non-linear crystal materials. Greatly non-degenerate time-bin entangled photon pair sources are implemented based on the quantum process of spontaneous-parametric-down-conversion. The non-degenerate wavelengths correspond to an atomic transition (895 nm) and a telecommunications band (1310 nm). Interference-fringe-visibilities of over 78% are achieved, verifying entanglement. An efficient and low-noise single-photon up-conversion detector based on sum-frequency-generation is implemented. Photons at 1310 nm are converted to the visible region and efficiently detected using a visible single-photon detector. An overall detection efficiency of over 32% is achieved with a dark-count noise rate of 2500 s-1. The detector is further developed to achieve an inter-symbol-interference free detection rate at twice the limit of the type of visible detector used. The detector is adapted into an up-conversion spectrometer for wavelengths near 1310 nm. A sensitivity of -126 dBm is achieved, corresponding to photon fluxes of approximately 500 s-1. The up-conversion spectrometer is further adapted for correlated biphoton spectroscopy by incorporating a frequency entangled and time correlated source. In this scheme, the spectral function near 895 nm of a remote object can be reproduced by locally measuring the 1310 nm with the up-conversion spectrometer and monitoring the coincidence detection rates. To achieve linewidths feasible for atomic interaction, a very narrow linewidth non-degenerate single-photon pair source is implemented based on spontaneous-parametric-down-conversion embedded in a singly-resonant cavity which is locked to and resonating at the frequency corresponding to a target atomic transition. Linewidths as narrow as 28 MHz are achieved. The brightness of the source within the modes is increased by two-orders compared to the single-pass implementations.
Quantum information systems are commonly operated in conventional communication bands (1310 and 1550 nm) over an optical fiber to take advantage of low transmission loss. However, the detection and spectral measurement of single photons in these communication bands are limited due to high noise and low sensitivity of single photon detectors in the wavelength ranges. To demonstrate high efficiency detection and high sensitivity spectral measurement, we have implemented a single photon detector and a spectrometer based on frequency up-conversion technology. This detector and spectrometer uses a 5-cm periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide and a tunable pump laser around 1550 nm, to convert signal photons around 1310 to 710 nm. The converted photons are then detected by a silicon-based avalanche photodiode (APD). The overall detection efficiency of the single photon detector is as high as 32%, which is three times higher than commercial InGaAs APDs. The sensitivity of the spectrometer is measured to be −126 dBm, which is at least three orders-of-magnitude better than any commercial optical spectrum analyzer in this wavelength range.
We have studied single photon level frequency up-conversion, and developed efficient single photon detectors and a highly sensitive spectrometer at a telecommunication wavelength (around 1310 nm). We have applied the detector and spectrometer to the implementation of a quantum key distribution system; to the characterization of an entangled photon source and a single photon source from quantum dots; to increase the temporal resolution of the single photon detector; and to study on high-order temporal correlation following frequency conversion. In this paper, we will present an overview on the frequency up-conversion technique and its applications in quantum information systems.
Abstract We demonstrate frequency-bin entanglement between ultra-narrowband photons generated by cavity enhanced spontaneous parametric down conversion. Our source generates photon pairs in widely non-degenerate discrete frequency modes, with one photon resonant with a quantum memory material based on praseodymium doped crystals and the other photon at telecom wavelengths. Correlations between the frequency modes are analyzed using phase modulators and narrowband filters before detection. We show high-visibility two photon interference between the frequency modes, allowing us to infer a coherent superposition of the modes. We develop a model describing the state that we create and use it to estimate optimal measurements to achieve a violation of the Clauser–Horne (CH) Bell inequality under realistic assumptions. With these settings we perform a Bell test and show a significant violation of the CH inequality, thus proving the entanglement of the photons. Finally we demonstrate the compatibility with a quantum memory material by using a spectral hole in the praseodymium (Pr) doped crystal as spectral filter for measuring high-visibility two-photon interference. This demonstrates the feasibility of combining frequency-bin entangled photon pairs with Pr-based solid state quantum memories.
I present in this thesis the design, implementation and measurement results of a narrowband quantum light source based on cavity-enhanced Parametric Down-Conversion\n(PDC). Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC) is the workhorse in the field of optical quantum information and quantum computation, yet it is not suitable for applications where deterministic nonlinearities are required due to its low spectral brightness. By\nplacing the nonlinear crystal inside a cavity, the spectrum of down-conversion is actively modified, such that all the non-resonant modes of down-conversion experience destructive interference, while the resonant mode sees constructive interference, resulting in great enhancement in spectral brightness. I design and construct such a cavity-enhanced down-conversion source with record high spectral brightness, making it possible to use cold atoms as the interaction medium to achieve large nonlinearity between photons. The frequency of the photons is tunable and their coherence time is measured to be on the order of 10 nanoseconds, matching the lifetime of the excited state of typical alkali atoms. I characterize extensively the output of the source by measuring the second-order correlation function, quantifying two-photon indistinguishability, performing quantum state tomography of entangled states, and showing different statistics of the source.\n\nThe unprecedented long coherence time of the photon pairs has also made possible the encoding of quantum information in the time domain of the photons. I present a theoretical proposal of multi-dimensional quantum information with such long-coherence-time photons and analyze its performance with realistic parameter settings. I implement this proposal with the quantum light source I have built, and show for the first time that a qutrit can be encoded in the time domain of the single photons. I demonstrate the coherence is preserved for the qutrit state, thus ruling out any classical probabilistic explanation of the experimental data. Such an encoding scheme provides an easy access to multi-dimensional systems and can be used as a versatile platform for many quantum information and quantum computation tasks.
Frequency up-conversion single photon detectors use the principle of sum frequency generation to up-convert single photons in the near IR range to a shorter wavelength for an efficient detection by low cost detectors, such as Si-APDs. The up-conversion detectors are usually operated at room temperature with high detection efficiency and a low dark count rate. The detectors have a very narrow acceptance spectral width and polarization sensitivity, properties that can be exploited in certain applications requiring narrow linewidth or polarization specific detection. These unique characteristics can be used to enhance system performance in some applications, including fiber-based quantum communications systems.
Experiments in quantum optics are motivated by fundamental questions about the quantum mechanical description of matter and light as well as by applications in quantum technologies such as quantum information processing. Exploiting the quantum character of both matter and light has turned out to be extremely rewarding for novel technological applications in the emerging fields of quantum communication and computation. Here we consider the implementation of quantum information technology with trapped ions and single photons, focusing on two key issues: the entanglement of distant atoms and the controlled interaction of a single photon with a single atom. This thesis describes the construction of a double ion trap apparatus including the necessary frequency-stabilized laser systems, and first experiments to investigate the generation of distant atomic entanglement, the implementation of a simple quantum network and controlled single-atom single-photon interaction. The experimental setup comprises two ion traps at a distance of one meter, which are independent but identical in construction. We introduce novel realizations of a photoionization method for calcium atoms, a laser frequency stabilization scheme and a radio frequency pulse sequencer. Linear Paul traps are used to load individual or strings of calcium ions. High-numerical aperture objectives mounted on sub-micrometer positioning systems allow us to address and manipulate a single ion with strongly focused light fields and collect the emitted fluorescence photons from a large solid angle. With these bidirectional single-atom single-photon interfaces the essential building blocks of a quantum network with atoms and photons are available. One of the main objectives we pursue with the double-trap apparatus is the generation of entanglement between ions in different traps, which is one of the key tasks in a quantum network. We compare single- and two-photon schemes for probabilistic entanglement creation and analyze how the performance of the schemes depends on photon detection efficiency. As a first step towards the experimental realization of such schemes we measure the second order correlation function of fluorescence photons emitted from two distant trapped ions. We observe high-contrast quantum (Hong-Ou-Mandel) interference, proving the indistinguishability of photons emitted from different ions, which is a prerequisite for the considered entanglement schemes. To investigate the interaction of single photons and a single atom in free space we combine the ion trap apparatus with a tunable, narrowband spontaneous parametric down-conversion source. The high-numerical aperture objectives allow us to efficiently couple bandwidth-tunable photons to a single trapped ion. Such atom-photon interaction at the single-particle level is the most fundamental process in quantum optics and lies literally at the focus of many experimental implementations of quantum information processing protocols and of studies of the (quantum) limits of matter -light interaction, which were so far restricted to weak coherent light fields. Here we observe individual atomic absorption events of one photon of an entangled pair by employing a quantum jump detection scheme. To characterize and control the interaction process we modify the spectral properties of the down conversion photons and perform single-photon spectroscopy of a single ion. To go beyond experiments with cohe rent fields we study temporal correlations between the absorption of photons from the spontaneous parametric down conversion source by a single ion and the detection of the corresponding partner photon. For the applied scheme we observe promising indications that the quantum correlations of photons produced in spontaneous parametric down conversion are preserved in the resonant interaction with a single atom. The implementation of more efficient atom-light coupling and entanglement transfer schemes with our apparatus is outlined.