Quantum information networks will likely require different quantum systems for different functionality within the network. Indistinguishable photons can be used to interconnect these different subsystems. We discuss methods for coherently manipulating the single photons from different quantum systems and experimentally demonstrate spatial, temporal, and frequency matching of single photons using quantum dot and heralded parametric downconversion single photons. The bosonic nature of light insures that when two indistinguishable photons are superimposed on a beam splitter, they will form a single two-photon state, a process we call coalescence. This coalescence property can be used as both a fundamental test of indistinguishability and in quantum networks—connecting and propagating quantum information.Quantum information networks will likely require different quantum systems for different functionality within the network. Indistinguishable photons can be used to interconnect these different subsystems. We discuss methods for coherently manipulating the single photons from different quantum systems and experimentally demonstrate spatial, temporal, and frequency matching of single photons using quantum dot and heralded parametric downconversion single photons. The bosonic nature of light insures that when two indistinguishable photons are superimposed on a beam splitter, they will form a single two-photon state, a process we call coalescence. This coalescence property can be used as both a fundamental test of indistinguishability and in quantum networks—connecting and propagating quantum information.

Journal of the Optical Society of America BFeb 13, 20123 citations

On-demand indistinguishable single photons from an efficient and pure source based on a Rydberg ensemble

Dalia Ornelas-Huerta, Alexander N. Craddock, Elizabeth A. Goldschmidt +6 more

Single photons coupled to atomic systems have shown to be a promising platform for developing quantum technologies. Yet a bright on-demand, highly pure, and highly indistinguishable single-photon source compatible with atomic platforms is lacking. In this work, we demonstrate such a source based on a strongly interacting Rydberg system. The large optical nonlinearities in a blockaded Rydberg ensemble convert coherent light into a single collective excitation that can be coherently retrieved as a quantum field. We simultaneously observe a fully single-mode (spectral, temporal, spatial, and polarization) efficiency up to 0.098(2), a detector-background-subtracted g ( 2 ) = 5.0 ( 1.6 ) × 10 − 4 , and indistinguishability of 0.980(7), at an average photon production rate of 1.18 ( 2 ) × 10 4 s − 1 . All of these make this system promising for scalable quantum information applications. Furthermore, we investigate the effects of contaminant Rydberg excitations on the source efficiency and observed single-mode efficiencies up to 0.18(2) for lower photon rates. Finally, recognizing that many quantum information protocols require a single photon in a fully single mode, we introduce metrics that take into account all degrees of freedom to benchmark the performance of on-demand sources.Single photons coupled to atomic systems have shown to be a promising platform for developing quantum technologies. Yet a bright on-demand, highly pure, and highly indistinguishable single-photon source compatible with atomic platforms is lacking. In this work, we demonstrate such a source based on a strongly interacting Rydberg system. The large optical nonlinearities in a blockaded Rydberg ensemble convert coherent light into a single collective excitation that can be coherently retrieved as a quantum field. We simultaneously observe a fully single-mode (spectral, temporal, spatial, and polarization) efficiency up to 0.098(2), a detector-background-subtracted g ( 2 ) = 5.0 ( 1.6 ) × 10 − 4 , and indistinguishability of 0.980(7), at an average photon production rate of 1.18 ( 2 ) × 10 4 s − 1 . All of these make this system promising for scalable quantum information applications. Furthermore, we investigate the effects of contaminant Rydberg excitations on the source efficiency and observed single-mode efficiencies up to 0.18(2) for lower photon rates. Finally, recognizing that many quantum information protocols require a single photon in a fully single mode, we introduce metrics that take into account all degrees of freedom to benchmark the performance of on-demand sources.

arXiv:2003.02202OpticaJun 15, 202065 citations

Exploring Quantum Information with Single Photons

Teodor Strömberg

Springer thesesJan 1, 20260 citations

Near-Perfect Single-Photon Source via Ultrastrong Coupling

Ying Ren, Ying-Xue Ma, Jin-Feng Huang

Deterministic single-photon sources are indispensable core devices for quantum information technology, yet high-performance implementation remains a long-standing bottleneck for linear optical quantum computing. We propose a feasible scheme for deterministic single-photon emission based on a $\triangle$ -type three-level atom coupled to a single-mode cavity, driven by two classical external fields, which is adaptable to both strong and ultrastrong cavity-atom coupling regimes. Under continuous-wave driving, the system achieves excellent single-photon characteristics: the normalized equal-time second-order correlation function reaches $g^{(2)}(0)\sim10^{-6}$ , with a photon indistinguishability of $98.73\%$ and a state purity of $99.95\%$ in the strong coupling regime, while the ultrastrong coupling regime further suppresses $G^{(2)}(0)\sim10^{-8}$ , yielding an indistinguishability of $99.10\%$ and a purity of $99.99\%$ . For pulsed driving in the ultrastrong coupling regime, the source realizes superior performance, with an emission efficiency, indistinguishability, and purity of $99.96\%$ , $98.98\%$ , and $99.99\%$ under resonant conditions, and $100\%$ , $95.91\%$ , and $99.93\%$ under detuned conditions, respectively. The near-ideal optical performance of the proposed scheme provides a viable route for constructing high-quality deterministic single-photon sources, which offers a promising solution to the limitations of conventional single-photon devices and facilitates the further development of quantum information science and fundamental quantum optical research.Deterministic single-photon sources are indispensable core devices for quantum information technology, yet high-performance implementation remains a long-standing bottleneck for linear optical quantum computing. We propose a feasible scheme for deterministic single-photon emission based on a $\triangle$-type three-level atom coupled to a single-mode cavity, driven by two classical external fields, which is adaptable to both strong and ultrastrong cavity-atom coupling regimes. Under continuous-wave driving, the system achieves excellent single-photon characteristics: the normalized equal-time second-order correlation function reaches $g^{(2)}(0)\sim10^{-6}$, with a photon indistinguishability of $98.73\%$ and a state purity of $99.95\%$ in the strong coupling regime, while the ultrastrong coupling regime further suppresses $G^{(2)}(0)\sim10^{-8}$, yielding an indistinguishability of $99.10\%$ and a purity of $99.99\%$. For pulsed driving in the ultrastrong coupling regime, the source realizes superior performance, with an emission efficiency, indistinguishability, and purity of $99.96\%$, $98.98\%$, and $99.99\%$ under resonant conditions, and $100\%$, $95.91\%$, and $99.93\%$ under detuned conditions, respectively. The near-ideal optical performance of the proposed scheme provides a viable route for constructing high-quality deterministic single-photon sources, which offers a promising solution to the limitations of conventional single-photon devices and facilitates the further development of quantum information science and fundamental quantum optical research.

quant-pharXiv:2607.00574Jul 2, 20260 citations

Indistinguishable photons from a single-photon device

Charles Santori, David A. Fattal, Jelena Vuckovic A +2 more

NatureOct 1, 20021,557 citations

\triangle

-type three-level atom coupled to a single-mode cavity, driven by two classical external fields, which is adaptable to both strong and ultrastrong cavity-atom coupling regimes. Under continuous-wave driving, the system achieves excellent single-photon characteristics: the normalized equal-time second-order correlation function reaches

g^{(2)}(0)\sim10^{-6}

, with a photon indistinguishability of

98.73\%

and a state purity of

99.95\%

in the strong coupling regime, while the ultrastrong coupling regime further suppresses

G^{(2)}(0)\sim10^{-8}

, yielding an indistinguishability of

99.10\%

and a purity of

99.99\%

. For pulsed driving in the ultrastrong coupling regime, the source realizes superior performance, with an emission efficiency, indistinguishability, and purity of

99.96\%

98.98\%

, and

99.99\%

under resonant conditions, and

100\%

95.91\%

, and

99.93\%

under detuned conditions, respectively. The near-ideal optical performance of the proposed scheme provides a viable route for constructing high-quality deterministic single-photon sources, which offers a promising solution to the limitations of conventional single-photon devices and facilitates the further development of quantum information science and fundamental quantum optical research.