We demonstrate an efficient low-noise quantum f requency c onverter based on a thermally self-stabilizing monolithic bulk ppKTP cavity for the conversion of single photons from nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to telecommunication wavelength.
Interfacing the different building blocks of a future large-scale quantum network will require efficient and noiseless frequency conversion of quantum light. Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond are a leading candidate to form the nodes of such a network. However, the performance of a suitable converter remains a bottleneck, with existing demonstrations severely limited by parasitic noise arising at the target telecommunication wavelength. Here we demonstrate a platform for efficient low-noise quantum frequency conversion based on a monolithic bulk periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate cavity and show its suitability for the conversion of 637-nm single photons from nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond to telecommunication wavelengths. By resonantly enhancing the power of an off-the-shelf pump laser, we achieve an internal conversion efficiency of $(72.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\mathrm{%}$ while generating noise of only $(110\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4)\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\mathrm{kHz}/\mathrm{nm}$ at the target wavelength without the need for any active stabilization. This constitutes a fivefold reduction in noise over existing state-of-the-art single-step converters at these wavelengths. We verify the almost-ideal preservation of nonclassical correlations by converting photons from a spontaneous-parametric-down-conversion source and moreover show the preservation of time-energy entanglement via Franson interferometry.
The silicon-vacancy center in diamond holds great promise as a qubit for quantum communication networks. However, since the optical transitions are located within the visible red spectral region, quantum frequency conversion to low-loss telecommunication wavelengths becomes a necessity for its use in long-range, fiber-linked networks. This work presents a highly efficient, low-noise quantum frequency conversion device for photons emitted by a silicon-vacancy (SiV) center in diamond to the telecom C-band. By using a two-stage difference-frequency mixing scheme SPDC noise is circumvented and Raman noise is minimized, resulting in a very low noise rate of 10.4±0.7 photons per second as well as an overall device efficiency of 35.6%. By converting single photons from SiV centers we demonstrate the preservation of photon statistics upon conversion.
Diamond tin-vacancy (SnV) centers are promising candidates for building quantum network nodes. However, their native photon emission at 619 nm is incompatible with metropolitan-scale networks operating at low-loss telecom wavelengths. To address this, we demonstrate highly efficient, low-noise quantum frequency conversion (QFC) of 619 nm photons to the telecom S-band at 1480 nm. The conversion process combines 619 nm photons with 1064 nm pump light in an actively stabilized cavity containing a bulk monocrystalline potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) crystal. We achieve an internal (external) conversion efficiency of (48 ± 3) % ((28 ± 2) %) and a noise photon rate per wavelength of (2.2 ± 0.9) cts/s/pm, which is spectrally flat in the investigated frequency range of 40 GHz. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the efficiency remains above 80% of its maximum over a frequency range of 70 GHz. Finally, we generate a string of photons from a single waveguide-embedded SnV − center using a train of excitation pulses and send these through the QFC. After the QFC, we observe telecom light displaying the SnV lifetime, confirming successful conversion. These results represent a critical step towards metropolitan-scale fiber-based quantum networks using SnV − centers.
Diamond tin-vacancy (SnV) centers are promising candidates for building quantum network nodes. However, their native photon emission at 619 nm is incompatible with metropolitan-scale networks operating at low-loss telecom wavelengths. To address this, we demonstrate highly efficient, low-noise quantum frequency conversion (QFC) of 619 nm photons to the telecom S-band at 1480 nm. The conversion process combines 619 nm photons with 1064 nm pump light in an actively stabilized cavity containing a bulk monocrystalline potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) crystal. We achieve an internal (external) conversion efficiency of (48 +/- 3)% ((28 +/- 2)%) and a noise photon rate per wavelength of 2.2 +/- 0.9 cts/s/pm, which is spectrally flat in the investigated frequency range of 40 GHz. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the efficiency remains above 80% of its maximum over a frequency range of 70 GHz. Finally, we generate a string of photons from a single waveguide-embedded SnV center using a train of excitation pulses and send these through the QFC. After the QFC, we observe a string of telecom photons displaying the SnV lifetime, confirming successful conversion. These results represent a critical step towards metropolitan-scale fiber-based quantum networks using SnV centers.
Entanglement-based quantum networks are strongly pursued worldwide, because of their potential impact on secure communication, distributed quantum computing, and timekeeping, for example. Among quantum emitters, the N-V center in diamond is a leading candidate for implementing such networks, but high photon loss at the N-V emission wavelength hinders long-distance entanglement (beyond ~1 km). The authors surmount this hurdle by down-converting single N-V photons to a telecom wavelength, via nonlinear optics plus efficient filtering and excellent control of a lone emitter. This technological achievement is a critical step toward large-scale quantum networks.