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SPIE Quantum Information Science, Sensing, and Computation

Ultra-high spectral resolution spectrometer for single photon source characterization

Oliver Slattery, Xiao Hong Tang, Lijun Ma

Published May 14, 2018• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

In future quantum communication systems, single photons will be required to possess very narrow linewidths and accurate wavelengths for efficient interaction with quantum memories. Spectral characterization of such single photon sources is necessary and must be performed with very high spectral resolution, wavelength accuracy and detection sensitivity. We propose a method to precisely characterize the spectral properties of narrow-linewidth single-photon sources using an atomic vapor cell based on electromagnetically-induced transparency. We have experimentally demonstrated a spectral resolution of better than 150 kHz, an absolute wavelength accuracy of within 50 kHz and an exceptional detection sensitivity suitable for optical signals as weak as -117 dBm.

DOI
10.1117/12.2303836

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arXiv:1708.02325•Physical Review A•Aug 7, 2017•30 citations
In future quantum communication systems, single photons will be required to possess very narrow linewidths and accurate wavelengths for efficient interaction with quantum memories. Spectral characterization of such single photon sources is necessary and must be performed with very high spectral resolution, wavelength accuracy and detection sensitivity. We propose a method to precisely characterize the spectral properties of narrow-linewidth single-photon sources using an atomic vapor cell based on electromagnetically-induced transparency. We have experimentally demonstrated a spectral resolution of better than 150 kHz, an absolute wavelength accuracy of within 50 kHz and an exceptional detection sensitivity suitable for optical signals as weak as -117 dBm.
In future quantum communication systems, single photons, as the information carriers, are required to possess very narrow linewidths and accurate wavelengths for an efficient interaction with quantum memories. Spectral characterization of such single photon sources is necessary and must be performed with very high spectral resolution, wavelength accuracy and detection sensitivity. In this paper, we propose a method to precisely characterize spectral properties of narrow-linewidth single-photon sources using an atomic vapor cell based on electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT). By using an atomic cesium vapor cell, we have experimentally demonstrated a spectral resolution of better than 150 kHz, an absolute wavelength accuracy of within 50 kHz and an exceptional detection sensitivity suitable for optical signals as weak as −117 dBm.
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.
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 memories play a pivotal role in establishing long-distance communication by entanglement swapping operations within quantum repeater nodes. Constructing such a quantum memory involves Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) within atomic vapors at room temperatures to store highly attenuated coherent light pulses down to the level of single photons. The photons may be generated from quantum nodes containing stationary quantum systems, such as atoms or semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). QDs serve as a potent source of quantum light, furnishing bright, precisely timed single photons of exceptional purity. While previous endeavors have demonstrated the integration of QDs with atomic vapors through techniques like “slow light,” the development of a dedicated quantum memory for QDs remains unmatched. In our study, we introduce an EIT quantum memory hosted within warm cesium vapor. Our approach exhibits a good efficiency in storing faint coherent light pulses at the single photon level. Moreover, the measured bandwidth of around 200 MHz approaches the Fourier-limited emission characteristics of QDs. We present initial efforts to match the emission from QDs with our quantum memory and discuss application scenarios of room temperature EIT quantum memories.
Single photons of subnatural linewidth and high spectral brightness are necessary for efficient light-matter interaction at the single-photon level, which lies at the heart of many quantum photonic technologies. Here we demonstrate a bright source of single photons with subnatural linewidth, controllable waveforms, and a high spectral brightness of $3.67\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{s}{}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{mW}{}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{MHz}{}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. The interaction between the single photons and atoms is demonstrated by the controlled absorption of the single photons in an atomic vapor. Our work has potential applications in quantum information technologies.