We develop a practical, mathematical model for the effective two-photon density matrix produced by a parametric source of entangled photon pairs under two and four photon-number-resolving and threshold detectors.
We develop a comprehensive model for the effective two-photon density matrix produced by a parametric source of entangled-photon pairs under a variety of detector configurations commonly seen in a laboratory setting: two and four photon-number-resolving (PNR) and threshold detectors. We derive the probability of obtaining a single coincidence assuming Poisson-distributed photon pairs, nonunit detection efficiency, and dark counts; obtain the effective density matrix; and use this quantity to compute the fidelity of this state with respect to the maximally entangled ideal. The four-detector PNR case admits an analytic result valid for any combination of parameters, while all other cases leverage low-efficiency approximations to arrive at closed-form expressions. Interestingly, our model reveals appreciable fidelity improvements from four detectors as opposed to two but minimal advantages for PNR over threshold detectors in the regimes explored. Overall, our work provides a valuable tool for the quantitative design of two-photon experiments under realistic nonidealities.
Quantum entanglement is an essential resource for quantum networks. However, the generation of entanglement between physical devices at remote network nodes is a challenging task towards practical implementation of quantum networks. In this work, we use the open-source Simulator of QUantum Network Communication (SeQUeNCe), developed by our team, to simulate entanglement generation between two atomic frequency comb (AFC) absorptive quantum memories to be deployed on the Argonne-Chicago quantum network. We realize the representation of photonic quantum states within truncated Fock spaces in SeQUeNCe and build models for a spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) source, AFC absorptive quantum memories, and measurement devices with non-number-resolving photon detectors. Based on these developments, we observe varying fidelity with SPDC source mean photon number, and varying entanglement generation rate with both mean photon number and memory mode number. We also simulate tomographic reconstruction of the effective density matrix for the bipartite photonic states retrieved from quantum memories. Our work extends the usability of the SeQUeNCe simulator with new hardware modules and Fock state representation that will improve the simulation of near term quantum network hardware and protocols.
We propose a scheme of BB84 quantum key distribution (QKD) with a triggered parametric down-conversion (PDC) source. According to different results of Alice's measurement using a photon number resolving (PNR) detector, we separate photon pulses into three sets to implement the passive decoy method. Performances of two different kinds of widely-used PNR detectors, TES and TMD, are investigated by simulation. With the parameters of PNR detectors nowadays, TES and TMD perform similarly. Both of them can improve the secure transmission distance up to 171 km. Furthermore, compared with the case using threshold detectors, this scheme can achieve a higher key generation rate.