Advanced Photon Counting Techniques
A dictionary for single photonics
Joshua C. Bienfang, Paulina S. Kuo, Thomas Gerrits, Alan L. Migdall, Sergey Vladimirovich Polyakov, Oliver Slattery
Abstract
As the field of single-photon sources and detectors has grown over the past two decades, a need has been identified for a commonly understood and clearly defined set of terms relevant to device performance and characterization. A common language promotes understanding among scientists in the field and facilitates the characterization and comparison of devices and systems. During the recent pandemic we undertook an effort to compile a set of definitions and usages for single-photon sources and detectors. We have sought and continue to seek input from researchers around the world for the purpose of updating our definitions as refinements are suggested. In this talk we present our approach, the current status, and give some illustrative examples from this single-photon sources and detectors dictionary.