Parametric Down-conversion Source Research Articles

Simple and practical method of characterizing the parametric down-conversion source**Project supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program (B) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (Grant Nos. XDB01030100 and XDB01030300), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFA0302600), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61475148 and 61575183).

Parametric down-conversion (PDC) sources play an important role in quantum information processing, therefore characterizing their properties is necessary. Here we present a statistical model to assess the properties of the PDC source with certain distribution, such as the brightness and photon channel transmissions, we only need to measure the singles and coincidences counts in a few seconds. Furthermore, we validate the model by applying it to a PDC source generating highly non-degenerate photon pairs. The results of the experiment indicate that our method is more simple, efficient, and less time consuming.

Interfacing a quantum dot with a spontaneous parametric down-conversion source

Quantum networks require interfacing stationary and flying qubits. These flying qubits are usually nonclassical states of light. Here we consider two of the leading source technologies for nonclassical light, spontaneous parametric down-conversion and single semiconductor quantum dots. Down-conversion delivers high-grade entangled photon pairs, whereas quantum dots excel at producing single photons. We report on an experiment that joins these two technologies and investigates the conditions under which optimal interference between these dissimilar light sources may be achieved.

Experimental preparation of an arbitrary tunable Werner state

We propose a simple and reliable method for engineering a tunable Werner state and realize it experimentally. The whole setup mainly includes a parametric down-conversion source and a controllable depolarization channel which consists of a Sagnac-like interferometer and some complete dephasing operations. The generated Werner states are characterized by quantum tomography, and very high concurrences and state fidelities can be achieved.

Full statistical mode reconstruction of a light field via a photon-number-resolved measurement

We present a method to reconstruct the complete statistical mode structure and optical losses of multimode conjugated optical fields using an experimentally measured joint photon-number probability distribution. We demonstrate that this method evaluates classical and non-classical properties using a single measurement technique and is well-suited for quantum mesoscopic state characterization. We obtain a nearly-perfect reconstruction of a field comprised of up to 10 modes based on a minimal set of assumptions. To show the utility of this method, we use it to reconstruct the mode structure of an unknown bright parametric down-conversion source.

Protecting single-photon entanglement with practical entanglement source

Single-photon entanglement (SPE) is important for quantum communication and quantum information processing. However, SPE is sensitive to photon loss. In this paper, we discuss a linear optical amplification protocol for protecting SPE. Different from the previous protocols, we exploit the practical spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) source to realize the amplification, for the ideal entanglement source is unavailable in current quantum technology. Moreover, we prove that the amplification using the entanglement generated from SPDC source as auxiliary is better than the amplification assisted with single photons. The reason is that the vacuum state from SPDC source will not affect the amplification, so that it can be eliminated automatically. This protocol may be useful in future long-distance quantum communications.

A bright triggered twin-photon source in the solid state

A non-classical light source emitting pairs of identical photons represents a versatile resource of interdisciplinary importance with applications in quantum optics and quantum biology. To date, photon twins have mostly been generated using parametric downconversion sources, relying on Poissonian number distributions, or atoms, exhibiting low emission rates. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate the efficient, triggered generation of photon twins using the energy-degenerate biexciton–exciton radiative cascade of a single semiconductor quantum dot. Deterministically integrated within a microlens, this nanostructure emits highly correlated photon pairs, degenerate in energy and polarization, at a rate of up to (234±4) kHz. Furthermore, we verify a significant degree of photon indistinguishability and directly observe twin-photon emission by employing photon-number-resolving detectors, which enables the reconstruction of the emitted photon number distribution. Our work represents an important step towards the realization of efficient sources of twin-photon states on a fully scalable technology platform.

Highly efficient frequency conversion with bandwidth compression of quantum light

Hybrid quantum networks rely on efficient interfacing of dissimilar quantum nodes, as elements based on parametric downconversion sources, quantum dots, colour centres or atoms are fundamentally different in their frequencies and bandwidths. Although pulse manipulation has been demonstrated in very different systems, to date no interface exists that provides both an efficient bandwidth compression and a substantial frequency translation at the same time. Here we demonstrate an engineered sum-frequency-conversion process in lithium niobate that achieves both goals. We convert pure photons at telecom wavelengths to the visible range while compressing the bandwidth by a factor of 7.47 under preservation of non-classical photon-number statistics. We achieve internal conversion efficiencies of 61.5%, significantly outperforming spectral filtering for bandwidth compression. Our system thus makes the connection between previously incompatible quantum systems as a step towards usable quantum networks.

New passive decoy-state quantum key distribution with thermal distributed parametric down-conversion source

We present a new scheme on implementing the passive quantum key distribution with thermal distributed parametric down-conversion source. In this scheme, only one-intensity decoy state is employed, but we can achieve very precise estimation on the single-photon-pulse contribution by utilizing those built-in decoy states. Moreover, we compare the new scheme with other practical methods, i.e., the standard three-intensity decoy-state BB84 protocol using either weak coherent states or parametric down-conversion source. Through numerical simulations, we demonstrate that our new scheme can drastically improve both the secure transmission distance and the key generation rate.

Parametric down-conversion photon-pair source on a nanophotonic chip

Quantum-photonic chips, which integrate quantum light sources alongside active and passive optical elements, as well as single-photon detectors, show great potential for photonic quantum information processing and quantum technology. Mature semiconductor nanofabrication processes allow for scaling such photonic integrated circuits to on-chip networks of increasing complexity. Second-order nonlinear materials are the method of choice for generating photonic quantum states in the overwhelming majority of linear optic experiments using bulk components, but integration with waveguide circuitry on a nanophotonic chip proved to be challenging. Here, we demonstrate such an on-chip parametric down-conversion source of photon pairs based on second-order nonlinearity in an aluminum-nitride microring resonator. We show the potential of our source for quantum information processing by measuring the high visibility anti-bunching of heralded single photons with nearly ideal state purity. Our down-conversion source yields measured coincidence rates of 80 Hz, which implies MHz generation rates of correlated photon pairs. Low noise performance is demonstrated by measuring high coincidence-to-accidental ratios. The generated photon pairs are spectrally far separated from the pump field, providing great potential for realizing sufficient on-chip filtering and monolithic integration of quantum light sources, waveguide circuits and single-photon detectors.

Realizing the measure-device-independent quantum-key-distribution with passive heralded-single photon sources

In this paper, we put forward a new approach towards realizing measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution with passive heralded single-photon sources. In this approach, both Alice and Bob prepare the parametric down-conversion source, where the heralding photons are labeled according to different types of clicks from the local detectors, and the heralded ones can correspondingly be marked with different tags at the receiver’s side. Then one can obtain four sets of data through using only one-intensity of pump light by observing different kinds of clicks of local detectors. By employing the newest formulae to do parameter estimation, we could achieve very precise prediction for the two-single-photon pulse contribution. Furthermore, by carrying out corresponding numerical simulations, we compare the new method with other practical schemes of measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution. We demonstrate that our new proposed passive scheme can exhibit remarkable improvement over the conventional three-intensity decoy-state measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution with either heralded single-photon sources or weak coherent sources. Besides, it does not need intensity modulation and can thus diminish source-error defects existing in several other active decoy-state methods. Therefore, if taking intensity modulating errors into account, our new method will show even more brilliant performance.

Heralded quantum repeater based on the scattering of photons off single emitters using parametric down-conversion source.

Quantum repeater is the key element in quantum communication and quantum information processing. Here, we investigate the possibility of achieving a heralded quantum repeater based on the scattering of photons off single emitters in one-dimensional waveguides. We design the compact quantum circuits for nonlocal entanglement generation, entanglement swapping, and entanglement purification, and discuss the feasibility of our protocols with current experimental technology. In our scheme, we use a parametric down-conversion source instead of ideal single-photon sources to realize the heralded quantum repeater. Moreover, our protocols can turn faulty events into the detection of photon polarization, and the fidelity can reach 100% in principle. Our scheme is attractive and scalable, since it can be realized with artificial solid-state quantum systems. With developed experimental technique on controlling emitter-waveguide systems, the repeater may be very useful in long-distance quantum communication.

Programmable two-photon quantum interference in103channels in opaque scattering media

We investigate two-photon quantum interference in an opaque scattering medium that intrinsically supports a large number of transmission channels. By adaptive spatial phase modulation of the incident wave fronts, the photons are directed at targeted speckle spots or output channels. From ${10}^{3}$ experimentally available coupled channels, we select two channels and enhance their transmission to realize the equivalent of a fully programmable $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2$ beam splitter. By sending pairs of single photons from a parametric down-conversion source through the opaque scattering medium, we observe two-photon quantum interference. The programed beam splitter need not fulfill energy conservation over the two selected output channels and hence could be nonunitary. Consequently, we have the freedom to tune the quantum interference from bunching (Hong-Ou-Mandel-like) to antibunching. Our results establish opaque scattering media as a platform for high-dimensional quantum interference that is notably relevant for boson sampling and physical-key-based authentication.

A versatile design for resonant guided-wave parametric down-conversion sources for quantum repeaters

Quantum repeaters - fundamental building blocks for long-distance quantum communication - are based on the interaction between photons and quantum memories. The photons must fulfil stringent requirements on central frequency, spectral bandwidth and purity in order for this interaction to be efficient. We present a design scheme for monolithically integrated resonant photon-pair sources based on parametric down-conversion in nonlinear waveguides, which facilitate the generation of such photons. We investigate the impact of different design parameters on the performance of our source. The generated photon spectral bandwidths can be varied between several tens of MHz up to around $1\,$GHz, facilitating an efficient coupling to different memories. The central frequency of the generated photons can be coarsely tuned by adjusting the pump frequency, poling period and sample temperature and we identify stability requirements on the pump laser and sample temperature that can be readily fulfilled with off-the-shelve components. We find that our source is capable of generating high-purity photons over a wide range of photon bandwidths. Finally, the PDC emission can be frequency fine-tuned over several GHz by simultaneously adjusting the sample temperature and pump frequency. We conclude our study with demonstrating the adaptability of our source to different quantum memories.

Progress towards practical device-independent quantum key distribution with spontaneous parametric down-conversion sources, on-off photodetectors, and entanglement swapping

Device-independent quantum key distribution (DIQKD) guarantees unconditional security of secret key without making assumptions about the internal workings of the devices used. It does so using the loophole-free violation of a Bell's inequality. The primary challenge in realizing DIQKD in practice is the detection loophole problem that is inherent to photonic tests of Bell's inequalities over lossy channels. We revisit the proposal of Curty and Moroder [Phys. Rev. A 84, 010304(R) (2011)] to use a linear optics-based entanglement-swapping relay (ESR) to counter this problem. We consider realistic models for the entanglement sources and photodetectors; more precisely, (a) polarization-entangled states based on pulsed spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) sources with infinitely higher order multi-photon components and multimode spectral structure, and (b) on-off photodetectors with non-unit efficiencies and non-zero dark count probabilities. We show that the ESR-based scheme is robust against the above imperfections and enables positive key rates at distances much larger than what is possible otherwise.

Local Sampling of the Wigner Function at Telecom Wavelength with Loss-Tolerant Detection of Photon Statistics.

We report the experimental point-by-point sampling of the Wigner function for nonclassical states created in an ultrafast pulsed type-II parametric down-conversion source. We use a loss-tolerant time-multiplexed detector based on a fiber-optical setup and a pair of photon-number-resolving avalanche photodiodes. By capitalizing on an expedient data-pattern tomography, we assess the properties of the light states with outstanding accuracy. The method allows us to reliably infer the squeezing of genuine two-mode states without any phase reference.

Practical quantum repeaters with parametric down-conversion sources

Conventional wisdom suggests that realistic quantum repeaters will require quasi-deterministic sources of entangled photon pairs. In contrast, we here study a quantum repeater architecture that uses simple parametric down-conversion sources, as well as frequency-multiplexed multimode quantum memories and photon-number resolving detectors. We show that this approach can significantly extend quantum communication distances compared to direct transmission. This shows that important trade-offs are possible between the different components of quantum repeater architectures.

Linear-optical qubit amplification with spontaneous parametric down-conversion source

A single photon is the basic building block in quantum communication. However, it is sensitive to photon loss. In this paper, we discuss a linear-optical amplification protocol for protecting a single photon with a practical spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) source. Our protocol revealed that in a practical experimental condition, the amplification using entanglement as an auxiliary is more powerful than the amplification using a single photon as an auxiliary, for the vacuum state in the SPDC source does not disturb the amplification and can be eliminated automatically. Moreover, the weak SPDC source will become another advantage to benefit the amplification, as the double-pair emission error can be decreased. Our protocol may be useful in future quantum cryptography, especially in the device-independent quantum key distribution.

A SPDC-Based Source of Entangled Photons and its Characterization

We present a short review of development and applications of single and biphoton sources. The main emphasis is on spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) sources capable of producing timecorrelated photon pairs. We also present a SPDC source of photon pairs at 1,064 nm pumped by a cw 532 nm laser. We consider the fundamental principles of quantum tomography and present results of characterization (entanglement and purity) of biphoton quantum states produced by this source. Additionally, we discuss some aspects of quantum entanglement suppression caused by the Migdall effect in a double-crystal scheme.

Practical long-distance quantum key distribution through concatenated entanglement swapping with parametric down-conversion sources

We develop a theory for long-distance quantum key distribution based on concatenated entanglement swapping using parametric down-conversion sources and show numerical results of our model. The model incorporates practical resources including multi-pair sources, inefficient detectors with dark counts and lossy channels. We calculate the maximum secret key-generation ratefor up to three entanglement swapping stations by optimizing over resource parameters, and our numerical simulation shows that the range of quantum key distribution can in principle be markedly increased but at the expense of an atrociously unfeasible secret key-generation rate; however, the upper bound of our key rates closely approach the Takeoka-Guha-Wilde upper bound. Our analysis demonstrates the need for new technology such as quantum memory to synchronize photons and our methods should serve as a valuable component for accurately modelling quantum-memory-based long-distance quantum key distribution.

Broadband indistinguishability from bright parametric downconversion in a semiconductor waveguide

Parametric downconversion (PDC) in semiconductor Bragg-reflection waveguides (BRW) is routinely exploited for photon-pair generation in the telecommunication range. Contrary to many conventional PDC sources, BRWs offer possibilities to create spectrally broadband but nevertheless indistinguishable photon pairs in orthogonal polarizations that simultaneously incorporate high frequency entanglement. We explore the characteristics of co-propagating twin beams created in a type-II ridge BRW. Our PDC source is bright and efficient, serving as a benchmark of its performance and justifies its exploitation for further use in quantum photonics. We then examine the coalescence of the twin beams and investigate the effect of their inevitable multi-photon contributions on the observed photon bunching. Our results show that BRWs have a great potential for producing broadband indistinguishable photon pairs as well as multi-photon states.