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

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters

Measurement of the Quantum Efficiency of Analog Detectors in the Parametric Down-Conversion Field

T. I. Novikova, A.A. Leontyev, G. Kh. Kitaeva

Published Sep 1, 2022• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Approaches to the standard-free calibration of the quantum efficiency of a wide class of analog detectors based on the measurement of statistical characteristics of fields generated by parametric down-conversion are analyzed. General expressions are obtained for the noise reduction factor of the difference photocurrent and for the covariance of photocurrents in the signal and idler channels that take into account the possibility of strong fluctuations in the amplitudes of single-photon response functions of the detectors used. It is shown that the measurement of the noise reduction factor of the difference photocurrent using detectors that cannot operate in the photon counting mode is on its own insufficient to directly characterize the level of two-mode squeezing in the down-conversion field and to determine the quantum efficiency of photosensitive elements without additional calibration procedures. A method to determine the quantum efficiency of such detectors based on measuring the dependence of the normalized covariance of photocurrents on the parametric gain is proposed.

DOI
10.1134/s0021364022601701

Related papers

Measurement of covariance of analog detector readings in the field of spontaneous parametric down-conversion

T. I. Novikova, Kirill A. Kuznetsov, I.V. Korolev +2 more

An approach is considered that can be applied to calibrate detectors operating in the analog signal recording mode. Statistical distributions of the readings of such detectors are studied taking into account fluctuations in the amplitudes of single-photon detector pulses.

International Conference Laser Optics (ICLO)•Jul 1, 2024•0 citations

Measurement of Correlations in the Parametric Down Conversion Field Using Analog Detectors

Daniil A. Safronenkov, G. Kh. Kitaeva

A method to measure the correlation function of a biphoton field, which does not require single-photon detectors and photocount coincidence schemes, has been proposed and experimentally approved. It is based on the statistical analysis of current data from analog detectors. On an example of the operation of a scheme with analog photomultiplier tubes in the signal and idler channels of degenerate parametric down conversion, it has been shown that this new approach allows one to obtain correlation function values coinciding with the results of the standard photon counting technique. It has been shown how the absolute values of photon numbers and radiation power in the signal channel of the down conversion scheme are determined from the measured correlation function. Analog detection can expand the spectral and dynamic ranges of electromagnetic radiation for the application of quantum optic technologies. A method for the reference-free measurement of the spectral sensitivity of an analog photosensor module has been demonstrated as the first example of application.

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Letters•Jul 1, 2024•1 citation

Measurement of the biphoton second-order correlation function with analog detectors

Daniil A. Safronenkov, N. A. Borshchevskaya, T. I. Novikova +3 more

An experimental scheme and data processing approaches are proposed for measuring by analog photo detectors the normalized second-order correlation function of the biphoton field generated under spontaneous parametric down-conversion. Obtained results are especially important for quantum SPDC-based technologies in the long-wave spectral ranges, where it is difficult to use the single-photon detector at least in one of the two biphoton channels. The methods of discrimination of analog detection samples are developed to eliminate the negative influence of the detection noises and get quantitatively true values of both the correlation function and the detector quantum efficiency. The methods are demonstrated depending on whether two single-photon avalanche photo detectors are used in both SPDC channels, or at least one single-photon detector is replaced by a photo-multiplier tube which cannot operate in the photon counting mode.

Optics Express•Oct 15, 2021•11 citations

Absolute calibration of photodetectors: photocurrent multiplication versus photocurrent subtraction

I. N. Agafonov, Maria V. Chekhova, T. Sh. Iskhakov +3 more

We report testing of the new absolute method of photodetector calibration based on the difference-signal measurement for two-mode squeezed vacuum by comparison with the traditional absolute method based on coincidence counting. Using low-gain parametric downconversion, we have measured the quantum efficiency of a counting detector by both methods. The difference-signal method was adapted for the counting detectors by taking into account the dead-time effect.

arXiv:1012.3248•Optics Letters•Apr 4, 2011•20 citations

Measurement of quantum efficiency of avalanche photodetectors based on quantum two-photon field

A. Czitrovszky, Alexander V. Sergienko

A pair of rigorously correlated photons (biphotons) from parametric down conversion makes it possible to use them for measuring the absolute value of the quantum efficiency of the optical detectors, both in photon counting and in analog regimes, that does not use any calibrated standard light sources. Using this method the quantum efficiency of EG&G avalanche photodetectors was determined.

Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE•Aug 19, 1998•3 citations

Elementary responses of analog photodetectors and absolute calibration of their efficiency

Daniil A. Safronenkov, Pavel A. Prudkovskii, A. V. Osipenkov +1 more

A modified Klyshko method for standardless calibration of analog photodetector efficiencies is suggested and experimentally implemented. The method is based on the measurement of the number of incident photons using correlation properties of biphotons generated under spontaneous parametric downconversion, and on the determination of the mean number of discrete elementary responses of a photodetector by deconvoluting the statistical distribution of the output photocurrents. As an example, the generalized efficiency of an analog photomultiplier is measured as the ratio of the average number of elementary current responses to the average number of incident photons. The statistical properties of the elementary responses of an analog photodetector depend not only on the detector itself, but also on the parameters of the subsequent electronic circuit. Nevertheless, it has been shown that the generalized efficiency determined by this way allows one to calibrate the photon fluxes by the analog photodetector without involvement of any reference sources or detectors.

Journal of Applied Physics•May 8, 2025•3 citations
Approaches to the standard-free calibration of the quantum efficiency of a wide class of analog detectors based on the measurement of statistical characteristics of fields generated by parametric down-conversion are analyzed. General expressions are obtained for the noise reduction factor of the difference photocurrent and for the covariance of photocurrents in the signal and idler channels that take into account the possibility of strong fluctuations in the amplitudes of single-photon response functions of the detectors used. It is shown that the measurement of the noise reduction factor of the difference photocurrent using detectors that cannot operate in the photon counting mode is on its own insufficient to directly characterize the level of two-mode squeezing in the down-conversion field and to determine the quantum efficiency of photosensitive elements without additional calibration procedures. A method to determine the quantum efficiency of such detectors based on measuring the dependence of the normalized covariance of photocurrents on the parametric gain is proposed.
A method to measure the correlation function of a biphoton field, which does not require single-photon detectors and photocount coincidence schemes, has been proposed and experimentally approved. It is based on the statistical analysis of current data from analog detectors. On an example of the operation of a scheme with analog photomultiplier tubes in the signal and idler channels of degenerate parametric down conversion, it has been shown that this new approach allows one to obtain correlation function values coinciding with the results of the standard photon counting technique. It has been shown how the absolute values of photon numbers and radiation power in the signal channel of the down conversion scheme are determined from the measured correlation function. Analog detection can expand the spectral and dynamic ranges of electromagnetic radiation for the application of quantum optic technologies. A method for the reference-free measurement of the spectral sensitivity of an analog photosensor module has been demonstrated as the first example of application.
An experimental scheme and data processing approaches are proposed for measuring by analog photo detectors the normalized second-order correlation function of the biphoton field generated under spontaneous parametric down-conversion. Obtained results are especially important for quantum SPDC-based technologies in the long-wave spectral ranges, where it is difficult to use the single-photon detector at least in one of the two biphoton channels. The methods of discrimination of analog detection samples are developed to eliminate the negative influence of the detection noises and get quantitatively true values of both the correlation function and the detector quantum efficiency. The methods are demonstrated depending on whether two single-photon avalanche photo detectors are used in both SPDC channels, or at least one single-photon detector is replaced by a photo-multiplier tube which cannot operate in the photon counting mode.
A modified Klyshko method for standardless calibration of analog photodetector efficiencies is suggested and experimentally implemented. The method is based on the measurement of the number of incident photons using correlation properties of biphotons generated under spontaneous parametric downconversion, and on the determination of the mean number of discrete elementary responses of a photodetector by deconvoluting the statistical distribution of the output photocurrents. As an example, the generalized efficiency of an analog photomultiplier is measured as the ratio of the average number of elementary current responses to the average number of incident photons. The statistical properties of the elementary responses of an analog photodetector depend not only on the detector itself, but also on the parameters of the subsequent electronic circuit. Nevertheless, it has been shown that the generalized efficiency determined by this way allows one to calibrate the photon fluxes by the analog photodetector without involvement of any reference sources or detectors.