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Optics and Photonics News

An Efficient, High-Quality Single-Photon Source

Xing Ding, Yu He, Z.-C. Duan, M.-C. Chen, Sebastian Unsleber, Stefan Alexander Maier, Christian Schneider, Martin Kamp, Sven Höfling, Niels Gregersen, Chao‐Yang Lu, Jian-Wei Pan

Published Dec 1, 2016• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

In recent decades, single-photon sources have emerged as key resources in the emerging field of quantum information, including quantum key distribution, quantum teleportation and optical quantum computing. To be practically useful for scalable quantum technologies, a single-photon source must simultaneously possess three qualities: high purity, photon indistinguishability and efficiency. We have developed a single-photon source that combines all three of these key features into a single device.

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What are single photons good for?

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In a long-held preconception, photons play a central role in present-day quantum technologies. But what are sources producing photons one by one good for precisely? Well, in opposition to what many suggest, we show that single-photon sources are not helpful for point to point quantum key distribution because faint laser pulses do the job comfortably. However, there is no doubt about the usefulness of sources producing single photons for future quantum technologies. In particular, we show how single-photon sources could become the seed of a revolution in the framework of quantum communication, making the security of quantum key distribution device-independent or extending quantum communication over many hundreds of kilometers. Hopefully, these promising applications will provide a guideline for researchers to develop more and more efficient sources, producing narrowband, pure and indistinguishable photons at appropriate wavelengths.

arXiv:1202.0493•Journal of Modern Optics•May 28, 2012•68 citations

What are single photons good for?

Nicolas Sangouard, Hugo Zbinden

In a long-held preconception, photons play a central role in present-day quantum technologies. But what are sources producing photons one by one good for precisely? Well, in opposition to what many suggest, we show that single-photon sources are not helpful for point to point quantum key distribution because faint laser pulses do the job comfortably. However, there is no doubt about the usefulness of sources producing single photons for future quantum technologies. In particular, we show how single-photon sources could become the seed of a revolution in the framework of quantum communication, making the security of quantum key distribution device-independent or extending quantum communication over many hundreds of kilometers. Hopefully, these promising applications will provide a guideline for researchers to develop more and more efficient sources, producing narrowband, pure and indistinguishable photons at appropriate wavelengths.

•Jan 1, 2012•43 citations
In recent decades, single-photon sources have emerged as key resources in the emerging field of quantum information, including quantum key distribution, quantum teleportation and optical quantum computing. To be practically useful for scalable quantum technologies, a single-photon source must simultaneously possess three qualities: high purity, photon indistinguishability and efficiency. We have developed a single-photon source that combines all three of these key features into a single device.
In a long-held preconception, photons play a central role in present-day quantum technologies. But what are sources producing photons one by one good for precisely? Well, in opposition to what many suggest, we show that single-photon sources are not helpful for point to point quantum key distribution because faint laser pulses do the job comfortably. However, there is no doubt about the usefulness of sources producing single photons for future quantum technologies. In particular, we show how single-photon sources could become the seed of a revolution in the framework of quantum communication, making the security of quantum key distribution device-independent or extending quantum communication over many hundreds of kilometers. Hopefully, these promising applications will provide a guideline for researchers to develop more and more efficient sources, producing narrowband, pure and indistinguishable photons at appropriate wavelengths.
In a long-held preconception, photons play a central role in present-day quantum technologies. But what are sources producing photons one by one good for precisely? Well, in opposition to what many suggest, we show that single-photon sources are not helpful for point to point quantum key distribution because faint laser pulses do the job comfortably. However, there is no doubt about the usefulness of sources producing single photons for future quantum technologies. In particular, we show how single-photon sources could become the seed of a revolution in the framework of quantum communication, making the security of quantum key distribution device-independent or extending quantum communication over many hundreds of kilometers. Hopefully, these promising applications will provide a guideline for researchers to develop more and more efficient sources, producing narrowband, pure and indistinguishable photons at appropriate wavelengths.