Characterization of fiber-generated entangled photon pairs with superconducting single-photon detectors

Liang, C., Lee, K.F., Medic, M., Kumar, P., Hadfield, R. and Nam, S.W. (2007) Characterization of fiber-generated entangled photon pairs with superconducting single-photon detectors. Optics Express, 15(3), pp. 1322-1327. (doi: 10.1364/OE.15.001322)

Abstract

We demonstrate the suitability of fiber-generated entangled photon pairs for practical quantum communications in the telecom band by measuring their properties with superconducting single-photon detectors that produce negligible dark counts. The photon pairs are created in approximately 5-ps duration windows at 50 MHz rate while the detectors are operated in ungated free running mode. We obtain a coincidence to accidental-coincidence ratio >80 with raw photon-counting data, i.e., without making any post-measurement corrections. Using a previously demonstrated counter-propagating scheme we also produce polarizationentangled photon pairs at 50-MHz rate, which in coincidence detection directly yield two-photon interference with a fringe visibility >98%.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This paper was published in Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.001322. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hadfield, Professor Robert
• Authors: Liang, C., Lee, K.F., Medic, M., Kumar, P., Hadfield, R., and Nam, S.W.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Optics Express
• Publisher: Optical Society of America
• ISSN: 1094-4087
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2007 Optical Society of America
• First Published: First published in Optics Express 15(3):1322-1327
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher