Correlated photon pair generation in ultra-silicon-rich nitride waveguide

Abstract

Correlated photon pair generation is demonstrated using ultra-silicon-rich nitride waveguides. Waveguides with a length of 10 mm, nonlinear parameter of 530 W−1/m and anomalous dispersion are used to achieve spontaneous four-wave mixing. A generated coincidence rate of 2.40×105 counts per second is achieved, and derived from a measured coincidence rate of ∼1 counts per second at the maximum coupled power of 5 mW, in line with the expected quadratic dependence of spontaneous four-wave mixing efficiency on power. Utilizing picosecond pulses as the pump, we achieve a measured coincidence rate of up to 1.8 counts per second, resulting in a generated coincidence rate of 2.20×10−2 counts per pulse at the maximum peak power of 8.33 W. 2.3 times larger coincidence-to-accidental ratio is also obtained using a pulsed pump compared to that achieved with a continuous-wave pump. Further enhancements via the use of ring resonators may be adopted.