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Published on: June 8, 2018
Efficient and stable single-photon counting at 1.55 microm by intracavity frequency upconversion
1Key Laboratory of Optical and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, and Department of Physics, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
Optics Letters
|March 21, 2006
Summary
This study demonstrates stable single-photon frequency upconversion, converting 1550 nm signals to visible light with 74.3% efficiency. This robust method enables efficient single-photon counting with low background noise.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Optics
- Nonlinear Optics
- Laser Physics
Background:
- Single-photon detection at 1550 nm is crucial for quantum communication.
- Frequency upconversion is a promising technique for detecting infrared single photons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stable and efficient single-photon frequency upconversion system.
- To enable robust single-photon counting at 1550 nm.
Main Methods:
- Sum-frequency mixing of a 1550 nm single-photon signal with a 1064 nm pump beam.
- Utilizing a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal within a diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser cavity.
- Implementing automatic stabilization of the intracavity pump laser.
Main Results:
- Achieved a high conversion efficiency of 74.3% for single-photon frequency upconversion.
- Demonstrated robust long-term stability without requiring cavity lock.
- Measured background noise below 420 x 10^3 s^-1 for single-photon counting.
Conclusions:
- The developed system provides a stable and efficient solution for single-photon frequency upconversion.
- This technique is suitable for practical applications in single-photon detection at 1550 nm.
- The low background noise ensures reliable single-photon counting performance.
