Alfred B. U'Ren

Heralded generation of ultrafast single photons in pure quantum states

We present an experimental demonstration of heralded single photons prepared in pure quantum states from a parametric down-conversion source. It is shown that, through controlling the modal structure of the photon pair emission, one can generate pairs in factorable states and thence eliminate the need for spectral filters in multiple-source interference schemes. Indistinguishable heralded photons were generated in two independent spectrally engineered sources and Hong-Ou-Mandel interference observed between them without spectral filters. The measured visibility of 94.4% sets a minimum bound on the mean photon purity.

Efficient Conditional Preparation of High-Fidelity Single Photon States for Fiber-Optic Quantum Networks

A prerequisite for practical quantum information processing is an efficient source of high-fidelity single photons. We report single photon preparation with a conditional detection efficiency exceeding 51% and detection rate of up to 8.5 times 105 counts/[smiddotmW]

Generation of two-photon States with an arbitrary degree of entanglement via nonlinear crystal superlattices.

We demonstrate a general method of engineering the joint quantum state of photon pairs produced in spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The method makes use of a superlattice structure of nonlinear and linear materials, in conjunction with a broadband pump, to manipulate the group delays of the signal and idler photons relative to the pump pulse, and realizes photon pairs described by a joint spectral amplitude with arbitrary degree of entanglement. This method of group-delay engineering has the potential of synthesizing a broad range of states including factorizable states crucial for quantum networking and states optimized for Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometry. Experimental results for the latter case are presented, illustrating the principles of this approach.

Design of bright, fiber-coupled and fully factorable photon pair sources

From quantum computation to quantum key distribution, many quantum-enhanced applications rely on the ability to generate pure single photons. Even though the process of spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) is widely used as the basis for photon-pair sources, the conditions for pure heralded single-photon generation, taking into account both spectral and spatial degrees of freedom, have not been fully described. We present an analysis of the spatio-temporal correlations present in photon pairs produced by type-I, non-collinear SPDC. We derive a set of conditions for full factorability in all degrees of freedom—required for the heralding of pure single photons—between the signal and idler modes. In this paper, we consider several possible approaches for the design of bright, fiber-coupled and factorable photon-pair sources. We show through numerical simulations of the exact equations that sources based on: (i) the suppression of spatio-temporal entanglement according to our derived conditions and (ii) a tightly focused pump beam together with optimized fiber-collection modes and spectral filtering of the signal and idler photon pairs, lead to a source brightness of the same order of magnitude. Likewise, we find that both of these sources lead to a drastically higher factorable photon-pair flux, compared to an unengineered source.

Characterization of the nonclassical nature of conditionally prepared single photons

A reliable single photon source is a prerequisite for linear optical quantum computation and for secure quantum key distribution. A criterion yielding a conclusive test of the single photon character of a given source, attainable with realistic detectors, is therefore highly desirable. In the context of heralded single photon sources, such a criterion should be sensitive to the effects of higher photon number contributions, and to vacuum introduced through optical losses, which tend to degrade source performance. In this Rapid Communication we present, theoretically and experimentally, a criterion meeting the above requirements.

Observation of ultrabroadband, beamlike parametric downconversion

We report spontaneous parametric downconversion having an unusually wide spectral bandwidth. A collinear type 1 phase-matching configuration is employed with degeneracy near the zero group-velocity dispersion frequency. With a spectral width of 1080 nm and degenerate wavelength of 1885 nm, the source also emits a high flux of 3.4 x 10(11) s(-1)W(-1) photon pairs constrained to a cone of only approximately 2 degrees half-angle. A rigorous theoretical approach is developed that confirms the experimental observations. The source properties are consistent with an ultrashort photon-pair correlation time and, for a narrowband pump, extremely high-dimensional spectral entanglement.

Time-resolved up-conversion of entangled photon pairs.

In the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion, photons from a pump field are converted to signal and idler photon pairs in a nonlinear crystal. The reversed process, or up-conversion of these pairs back to single photons in a second crystal, is also possible. Here, we present experimental measurements of the up-conversion rate with a controlled time delay introduced between the signal and idler photons. As a function of delay, this rate presents a full width at half maximum of 27.9 fs under our experimental conditions, and we further demonstrate that group delay dispersion of the photon pairs broadens this width. These observations are in close agreement with our calculations, thus demonstrating an ultrafast, nonclassical correlation between the signal and idler waves.

Simplified spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction by using a thick nonlinear crystal.

We propose and demonstrate a novel implementation of spectral-shearing interferometry (SSI) for reconstructing the electric field of ultrashort pulses by utilizing asymmetric group velocity matching in a long nonlinear crystal. The proposed configuration eliminates the requirement for a linearly chirped auxiliary pulse that is in common in all existing SSI methods, relying on nonlinear conversion to produce a spectral shear.

Generation of fourier-transform-limited heralded single photons

In this paper we study the spectral (temporal) properties of heralded single photon wave packets, triggered by the detection of an idler photon in the process of parametric down conversion. The generated single photons are studied within the framework of the chronocyclic Wigner function, from which the single photon spectral width and temporal duration can be computed. We derive specific conditions on the two-photon joint spectral amplitude which result in both pure and Fourier-transform-limited heralded single photons. Likewise, we present specific source geometries which lead to the fulfillment of these conditions and show that one of these geometries leads, for a given pump bandwidth, to the temporally shortest possible heralded single photon wave packets.

Managing photons for quantum information processing

We study distinguishing information in the context of photonic quantum interference tailored for practical implementations of quantum information processing schemes. In particular, we consider the character of single–photon states optimized for multiple–source interference experiments and for experiments relying on Bell–state measurement and arrive at specific design criteria for photons produced by parametric down–conversion. Such states can be realistically implemented with available technology. We describe a novel method for characterizing the mode structure of single photons, and demonstrate it in the context of coherent light.