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Low random duty-cycle errors in periodically poled KTP revealed by sum-frequency generation
Optics Letters
|July 1, 2021
Summary
High-quality periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate (ppKTP) crystals show near-ideal performance for quantum frequency conversion. This material significantly reduces noise, enabling more efficient quantum technologies.
Area of Science:
- Quantum optics
- Nonlinear optics
- Materials science
Background:
- Quantum frequency conversion is crucial for quantum technologies.
- Low-noise operation is challenging, especially with shorter pump wavelengths.
- Fabrication errors in nonlinear crystals increase parasitic downconversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the poling quality of commercial periodically poled bulk potassium titanyl phosphate (ppKTP).
- To assess ppKTP's suitability for low-noise quantum frequency conversion.
Main Methods:
- Measured sum-frequency generation (SFG) efficiency across a wide phase mismatch range (0 to >400π).
- Analyzed SFG efficiency to evaluate poling quality and identify parasitic downconversion.
Main Results:
- ppKTP exhibited nearly ideal SFG efficiency, dropping to 10⁻⁶.
- Background noise from duty-cycle errors in ppKTP was substantially lower than in periodically poled lithium niobate.
- Estimated standard deviation of duty-cycle errors in ppKTP to be <2%.
Conclusions:
- ppKTP demonstrates excellent poling quality for quantum frequency conversion.
- ppKTP offers at least a 10x reduction in noise spectral density compared to current converters.
- ppKTP is a promising material for advancing low-noise quantum technologies.
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