High accuracy verification of a correlated-photon- based method for determining photoncounting detection efficiency

Area of Science:

• Metrology
• Quantum Optics
• Detector Calibration

Background:

• Accurate calibration of photon-counting detectors is essential for quantum information science and metrology.
• Existing calibration methods, while established, can benefit from independent verification and improved accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize and verify an independent primary standard method for calibrating photon-counting detector efficiency.
• To compare the performance and uncertainty of this new method against a conventional substitution method.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a primary standard method based on two-photon correlations for detector efficiency calibration.
• Employed a substitution method with a transfer detector linked to a national primary standard for verification.
• Performed comparative measurements to assess agreement and uncertainty.

Main Results:

• Achieved a relative standard uncertainty of 0.18% (k=1) for the two-photon correlation method.
• Obtained a relative standard uncertainty of 0.17% (k=1) for the substitution method.
• Found a difference of 0.14(14)% between the two independent calibration techniques, within the uncertainty of comparison.

Conclusions:

• The two-photon correlation method offers a highly accurate and independently verifiable primary standard for detector efficiency calibration.
• This work represents a significant advancement in achieving the highest accuracy characterization and verification of this calibration technique.