Shuichiro Inoue

800 MHz Single-photon detection at 1550-nm using an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode operated with a sine wave gating

Single-photon detection at 1550-nm with a high repetition rate was realized using an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode operated with a sine wave gating. Removing the AC noise due to the transferred gate signal usingband elimination filters, we have discriminated the avalanche signal which is much smaller than that in the conventional gating, which results in the suppression of the afterpulsing. At the repetition frequency of 800MHz, the overall afterpulsing probability was 6.0% with the detection efficiency of 8.5% and the dark count probability of 9.2X10(-6).

1.5 GHz single-photon detection at telecommunication wavelengths using sinusoidally gated InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode

We report a telecom-band single-photon detector for gigahertz clocked quantum key distribution systems. The single-photon detector is based on a sinusoidally gated InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode. The gate repetition frequency of the single-photon detector reached 1.5 GHz. A quantum efficiency of 10.8 % at 1550 nm was obtained with a dark count probability per gate of 6.3 x 10(-7) and an afterpulsing probability of 2.8 %. Moreover, the maximum detection rate of the detector is 20 MHz.

Titanium-based transition-edge photon number resolving detector with 98% detection efficiency with index-matched small-gap fiber coupling

We have realized a high-detection-efficiency photon number resolving detector at an operating wavelength of about 850 nm. The detector consists of a titanium superconducting transition edge sensor in an optical cavity, which is directly coupled to an optical fiber using an approximately 300-nm gap. The gap reduces the sensitive area and heat capacity of the device, leading to high photon number resolution of 0.42 eV without sacrificing detection efficiency or signal response speed. Wavelength dependent efficiency in fiber-coupled devices, which is due to optical interference between the fiber and the device, is also decreased to less than 1% in this configuration. The overall system detection efficiency is 98%±1% at wavelengths of around 850 nm, which is the highest value ever reported in this wavelength range.

Ultra-Low-Noise Sinusoidally Gated Avalanche Photodiode for High-Speed Single-Photon Detection at Telecommunication Wavelengths

Authors report avalanche signal detection with an ultra-low-noise detector-circuit based on a sinusoidally gated avalanche photodiode (APD). An avalanche gain can be reduced to 104, which results in strong suppression of afterpulsing. The gate repetition frequency reached 2 GHz, which is much higher than that of the other gated APDs. In addition, the detection efficiency of 10.5% was obtained at 1550 nm with a dark count probability of 6.1 × 10-7 and an afterpulsing probability of 3.4%.

Single-photon detector for long-distance fiber-optic quantum key distribution

We have investigated the performance of an InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode for photon counting at 1550 nm in the temperature range of thermoelectric cooling. A quantum efficiency of 13.7% was obtained at -55 degrees C , while the dark-count probability per gate (?1 ns) was kept as small as 2.4x10(-5) . The developed single-photon detector would yield a 104.4-km fiber-optic quantum key distribution in the ideal condition.

Bright narrowband source of photon pairs at optical telecommunication wavelengths using a type-II periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide

We report on the generation of narrowband photon pairs at telecommunication wavelengths using a periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide that utilizes the nonlinear tensor element d(24) for type-II quasi phase matching. The FWHM bandwidth of the spontaneous parametric downconversion was 1 nm. The brightness of the photon pair source was ~6x10(5)/s/GHz when the pump power was 1 mW. The indistinguishability of the signal and idler photons generated by the degenerate spontaneous parametric downconversion process was studied in a Hong-Ou-Mandel type interference experiment.

High-rate quantum key distribution over 100 km using ultra-low-noise, 2-GHz sinusoidally gated InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes

We have demonstrated quantum key distribution (QKD) over 100 km using single-photon detectors based on InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes (APDs). We implemented the differential phase shift QKD (DPS-QKD) protocol with electrically cooled and 2-GHz sinusoidally gated APDs. The single-photon detector has a dark count probability of 2.8 × 10(-8) (55 counts per second) with a detection efficiency of 6 %, which enabled us to achieve 24 kbit/s secure key rate over 100 km of optical fiber. The DPS-QKD system offers better performances in a practical way than those achieved using superconducting single-photon detectors. Moreover, the distance that secure keys against the general individual attacks can be distributed has been extended to 160 km.

Differential phase shift quantum key distribution using single-photon detectors based on a sinusoidally gated InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiode

The authors report a quantum key distribution experiment, in which they implemented a differential phase shift quantum key distribution protocol, using single-photon detectors based on InGaAs∕InP avalanche photodiodes operated with a sinusoidal gating. The single-photon detectors were operated at a repetition frequency of 500MHz with low after pulsing probabilities and low dark counts. A sifted key generation rate of 1.5Mbit∕s was achieved over a communication distance of 15km. Taking account of the security of the protocol against general individual attacks, secure keys can be generated with a rate of 0.33Mbit∕s.

Quantum receiver beyond the standard quantum limit of coherent optical communication.

The most efficient modern optical communication is known as coherent communication, and its standard quantum limit is almost reachable with current technology. Though it has been predicted for a long time that this standard quantum limit could be overcome via quantum mechanically optimized receivers, such a performance has not been experimentally realized so far. Here we demonstrate the first unconditional evidence surpassing the standard quantum limit of coherent optical communication. We implement a quantum receiver with a simple linear optics configuration and achieve more than 90% of the total detection efficiency of the system. Such an efficient quantum receiver will provide a new way of extending the distance of amplification-free channels, as well as of realizing quantum information protocols based on coherent states and the loophole-free test of quantum mechanics.

Position controlled nanowires for infrared single photon emission

We report the experimental demonstration of single-photon and cascaded photon pair emission in the infrared, originating from a single InAsP quantum dot embedded in a standing InP nanowire. A regular array of nanowires is fabricated by epitaxial growth on an electron-beam patterned substrate. Photoluminescence spectra taken on single quantum dots show narrow emission lines. Superconducting single photon detectors, which have a higher sensitivity than avalanche photodiodes in the infrared, enable us to measure auto and cross correlations. Clear antibunching is observed [g(2)(0) = 0.12] and we show a biexciton–exciton cascade, which can be used to create entangled photon pairs.