Towards a quasi-deterministic single-photon source

N. A. Peters, K. J. Arnold, A. P. VanDevender, E. R. Jeffrey, R. Rangarajan, O. Hosten, J. T. Barreiro, J. B. Altepeter, P. G. Kwiat

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

A source of single photons allows secure quantum key distribution, in addition, to being a critical resource for linear optics quantum computing. We describe our progress on deterministically creating single photons from spontaneous parametric downconversion, an extension of the Pittman, Jacobs and Franson scheme [Phys. Rev A, v66, 042303 (2002)]. Their idea was to conditionally prepare single photons by measuring one member of a spontaneously emitted photon pair and storing the remaining conditionally prepared photon until a predetermined time, when it would be "deterministically" released from storage. Our approach attempts to improve upon this by recycling the pump pulse in order to decrease the possibility of multiple-pair generation, while maintaining a high probability of producing a single pair. Many of the challenges we discuss are central to other quantum information technologies, including the need for low-loss optical storage, switching and detection, and fast feed-forward control.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationQuantum Communications and Quantum Imaging IV
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
EventQuantum Communications and Quantum Imaging IV - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 13 2006Aug 14 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6305
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceQuantum Communications and Quantum Imaging IV
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego, CA
Period08/13/0608/14/06

Keywords

  • Downconversion
  • Single-photon source

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