Abstract
We realize a deterministic single-photon source from one and the same calcium ion interacting with a high-finesse optical cavity. Photons are created in the cavity with efficiency 88±17%, a tenfold improvement over previous cavity-ion sources. Results of the second-order correlation function are presented, demonstrating a high suppression of two-photon events limited only by background counts. The cavity photon pulse shape is obtained, with good agreement between experiment and simulation. Moreover, theoretical analysis of the temporal evolution of the atomic populations provides relevant information about the dynamics of the process and opens the way to future investigations of a coherent atom–photon interface.
Highlights
Single photons represent an important resource in quantum information science [1, 2], as basis elements in both linear optical quantum computing and quantum cryptography [3, 4, 5] and as “flying qubits” travelling between the nodes of a quantum network [6, 7]
The interaction between atom and cavity field is achieved via a Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage (STIRAP) process [21]; a coherent field applied between a ground and an excited state of the atom transfers the atom to a second ground state while creating a photon in the cavity
We have demonstrated a highly efficient ion-cavity single-photon source and characterized its output pulse shape and dark-count-limited suppression of two photon events
Summary
Single photons represent an important resource in quantum information science [1, 2], as basis elements in both linear optical quantum computing and quantum cryptography [3, 4, 5] and as “flying qubits” travelling between the nodes of a quantum network [6, 7]. The generation of single photons through the process of spontaneous decay from a single excited emitter has been demonstrated in diverse systems [8], for example in molecules [9, 10], color centers in diamonds [11, 12], quantum dots [13, 14], neutral atoms [15] and ions [16] Efficient collection of these photons presents a challenge, which has been addressed by coupling the emitter to a resonator in the framework of cavity quantum electrodynamics [17]. Strong agreement of our simulations with experimental results confirms that we have developed a powerful model of our multilevel system, allowing us to investigate the dynamics of the photon generation process
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