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Efficient single-photon frequency conversion using a Sagnac interferometer.
Matthew Bradford1, Kenechukwu C Obi, Jung-Tsung Shen
1Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|April 3, 2012
Summary
We developed a new method for efficient single-photon frequency conversion using quantum interference in a Sagnac interferometer. This technique enables precise up- or down-conversion of optical frequencies at the single-photon level with high efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Photonics
- Quantum information science
Background:
- Efficient optical frequency conversion is crucial for quantum technologies.
- Current methods face limitations in efficiency and scalability at the single-photon level.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a novel scheme for efficient optical frequency conversion at the single-photon power level.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of up- and down-conversion using quantum interference.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing quantum interference of single-photon states.
- Coupling a three-level quantum emitter to a Sagnac interferometer.
Main Results:
- Achieved near-unity efficiency for single-photon frequency conversion.
- Demonstrated both up-conversion and down-conversion capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The proposed scheme offers a highly efficient method for single-photon frequency conversion.
- This advancement has significant implications for quantum communication and computation.
