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

Applied Optics

Explicit formulas for photon number discrimination with on/off detectors

Filippo M. Miatto, Akbar Safari, Robert W. Boyd

Published Aug 3, 2018• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Discriminating between Fock states with a high degree of accuracy is a desirable feature for modern applications of optical quantum information processing. A well-known alternative to sophisticated photon number discriminating detectors is to split the field among a number of simple on/off detectors and infer the desired quantity from the measurement results. In this work we find an explicit analytical expression of the detection probability for any number of input photons, any number of on/off detectors, and we include quantum efficiency and a false count probability. This allows us to explicitly invert the conditional probability using Bayes' theorem and express the number of photons that we had at the input in the most unbiased way possible with ready-to-use formulas. We conclude with some examples.

DOI
10.1364/ao.57.006750

Related papers

Theory of multiplexed photon number discrimination

Filippo M. Miatto, Akbar Safari, Robert W. Boyd

Although some non-trivial photon number resolving detectors exist, it may still be convenient to discriminate photon number states with the method of multiplexed detection. Multiplexing can be performed with paths in real space, with paths in time, and in principle with any degree of freedom that has a sufficient number of eigenstates and that can be coupled to the photon number. Previous works have addressed the probabilities involved in these measurements with Monte Carlo simulations, or by restricting the number of detectors to powers of 2, or without including quantum efficiency or noise. In this work we find an analytical expression of the detection probabilities for any number of input photons and any number of on/off photon detectors with a quantum efficiency $0\%\leqη\leq100\%$ and a false count probability $\varepsilon\geq0$. This allows us to retrodict the number of photons that we had at the input in the least unbiased way possible. We conclude our work with some examples.

arXiv:1601.05831•Jan 21, 2016•3 citations

True photocounting statistics of multiple on-off detectors

Jan Sperling, W. Vogel, G. S. Agarwal

We derive a closed photocounting formula, including noise counts and a finite quantum efficiency, for photon-number-resolving detectors based on on-off detectors. It applies to detection schemes such as array detectors and multiplexing setups. The result renders it possible to compare the corresponding measured counting statistics with the true photon number statistics of arbitrary quantum states. The photocounting formula is applied to the discrimination of photon numbers of Fock states, squeezed states, and odd coherent states. It is illustrated for coherent states that our formula is indispensable for the correct interpretation of quantum effects observed with such devices.

arXiv:1202.5106•Physical Review A•Feb 17, 2012•147 citations

Photon-added detection

Agata M. Brańczyk, Tobias J. Osborne, Alexei Gilchrist +1 more

The production of conditional quantum states and quantum operations based on the result of measurement is now seen as a key tool in quantum information and metrology. We propose a different type of photon number detector. It functions nondeterministically, but when successful, it has high fidelity. The detector, which makes use of an n-photon auxiliary Fock state and high efficiency homodyne detection, allows a tunable trade-off between fidelity and probability. By sacrificing probability of operation, an excellent approximation to a photon-number detector is achieved.

arXiv:quant-ph/0305185•Physical Review A•Oct 20, 2003•7 citations

Photon-counting distribution for arrays of single-photon detectors

Mattias Jönsson, Gunnar G. Bjork

We derive a computationally efficient expression of the photon-counting distribution for a uniformly illuminated array of single-photon detectors. The expression takes the number of single detectors, their quantum efficiency, and their dark count rate into account. Using this distribution we compute the error of the array detector by comparing the output to that of an ideal detector. We conclude from the error analysis that the quantum efficiency must be very high in order for the detector to resolve a handful of photons with high probability. Furthermore, we conclude that in the worst-case scenario the required array size scales quadratically with the number of photons that should be resolved. We also simulate a temporal array and investigate how large the error is for different parameters, and we compute the optimal size of the array that yields the smallest error.

arXiv:1910.02679•Physical Review A•Jan 15, 2020•14 citations

Estimation of photon counting statistics with imperfect detectors

Xiaochuan Han, Dongwei Zhuang, Yuxuan Li +2 more

The study on photon counting statistics is of fundamental importance in quantum optics. We theoretically analyzed the imperfect detection of an arbitrary quantum state. We derived photon counting formulae for six typical quantum states (i.e., Fock, coherent, squeeze-vacuum, thermal, odd and even coherent states) with finite quantum efficiencies and dark counts based on multiple on/off detector arrays. We applied the formulae to the simulation of multiphoton number detections and obtained both the simulated and ideal photon number distributions of each state. A comparison between the results by using the fidelity and relative entropy was carried out to evaluate the detection scheme and help select detectors for different quantum states.

Chinese Physics B•Jul 1, 2018•2 citations

Non-deterministic approximation of photon number discriminating detectors using non-discriminating detectors

Peter P. Rohde

We present a scheme for non-deterministically approximating photon number resolving detectors using non-discriminating detectors. The model is simple in construction and employs very few physical resources. Despite its non-determinism, the proposal may nonetheless be suitable for use in some quantum optics experiments in which non-determinism can be tolerated. We analyse the detection scheme in the context of an optical implementation of the controlled-NOT gate, an inherently non-deterministic device. This allows the gate's success probability to be traded away for improved gate fidelity, assuming high efficiency detectors. The scheme is compared to two other proposals, both deterministic, for approximating discriminating detectors using non-discriminating detectors: the cascade and time division multiplexing schemes.

arXiv:quant-ph/0411114•Journal of Optics B Quantum and Semiclassical Optics•Jan 29, 2005•7 citations
Discriminating between Fock states with a high degree of accuracy is a desirable feature for modern applications of optical quantum information processing. A well-known alternative to sophisticated photon number discriminating detectors is to split the field among a number of simple on/off detectors and infer the desired quantity from the measurement results. In this work we find an explicit analytical expression of the detection probability for any number of input photons, any number of on/off detectors, and we include quantum efficiency and a false count probability. This allows us to explicitly invert the conditional probability using Bayes' theorem and express the number of photons that we had at the input in the most unbiased way possible with ready-to-use formulas. We conclude with some examples.
Although some non-trivial photon number resolving detectors exist, it may still be convenient to discriminate photon number states with the method of multiplexed detection. Multiplexing can be performed with paths in real space, with paths in time, and in principle with any degree of freedom that has a sufficient number of eigenstates and that can be coupled to the photon number. Previous works have addressed the probabilities involved in these measurements with Monte Carlo simulations, or by restricting the number of detectors to powers of 2, or without including quantum efficiency or noise. In this work we find an analytical expression of the detection probabilities for any number of input photons and any number of on/off photon detectors with a quantum efficiency 0%≤η≤100%0\%\leqη\leq100\%0%≤η≤100% and a false count probability ε≥0\varepsilon\geq0ε≥0. This allows us to retrodict the number of photons that we had at the input in the least unbiased way possible. We conclude our work with some examples.
We derive a closed photocounting formula, including noise counts and a finite quantum efficiency, for photon-number-resolving detectors based on on-off detectors. It applies to detection schemes such as array detectors and multiplexing setups. The result renders it possible to compare the corresponding measured counting statistics with the true photon number statistics of arbitrary quantum states. The photocounting formula is applied to the discrimination of photon numbers of Fock states, squeezed states, and odd coherent states. It is illustrated for coherent states that our formula is indispensable for the correct interpretation of quantum effects observed with such devices.
The production of conditional quantum states and quantum operations based on the result of measurement is now seen as a key tool in quantum information and metrology. We propose a different type of photon number detector. It functions nondeterministically, but when successful, it has high fidelity. The detector, which makes use of an n-photon auxiliary Fock state and high efficiency homodyne detection, allows a tunable trade-off between fidelity and probability. By sacrificing probability of operation, an excellent approximation to a photon-number detector is achieved.
We derive a computationally efficient expression of the photon-counting distribution for a uniformly illuminated array of single-photon detectors. The expression takes the number of single detectors, their quantum efficiency, and their dark count rate into account. Using this distribution we compute the error of the array detector by comparing the output to that of an ideal detector. We conclude from the error analysis that the quantum efficiency must be very high in order for the detector to resolve a handful of photons with high probability. Furthermore, we conclude that in the worst-case scenario the required array size scales quadratically with the number of photons that should be resolved. We also simulate a temporal array and investigate how large the error is for different parameters, and we compute the optimal size of the array that yields the smallest error.
The study on photon counting statistics is of fundamental importance in quantum optics. We theoretically analyzed the imperfect detection of an arbitrary quantum state. We derived photon counting formulae for six typical quantum states (i.e., Fock, coherent, squeeze-vacuum, thermal, odd and even coherent states) with finite quantum efficiencies and dark counts based on multiple on/off detector arrays. We applied the formulae to the simulation of multiphoton number detections and obtained both the simulated and ideal photon number distributions of each state. A comparison between the results by using the fidelity and relative entropy was carried out to evaluate the detection scheme and help select detectors for different quantum states.
We present a scheme for non-deterministically approximating photon number resolving detectors using non-discriminating detectors. The model is simple in construction and employs very few physical resources. Despite its non-determinism, the proposal may nonetheless be suitable for use in some quantum optics experiments in which non-determinism can be tolerated. We analyse the detection scheme in the context of an optical implementation of the controlled-NOT gate, an inherently non-deterministic device. This allows the gate's success probability to be traded away for improved gate fidelity, assuming high efficiency detectors. The scheme is compared to two other proposals, both deterministic, for approximating discriminating detectors using non-discriminating detectors: the cascade and time division multiplexing schemes.