Modified Klyshko method for an analog detector calibration.

Area of Science:

• Quantum optics
• Detector physics
• Metrology

Background:

• Absolute quantum efficiency (QE) calibration is crucial for photon detectors.
• Existing methods are limited to photon counters, excluding analog detectors.
• Analog detectors exhibit a high dispersion of single-photon responses, complicating calibration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend absolute QE calibration to analog detectors.
• To develop a reference-free calibration method for photomultiplier tubes (PMTs).
• To achieve high accuracy in QE measurements for analog detectors.

Main Methods:

• Measuring the biphoton field correlation function.
• Approximating the distribution of detector readings.
• Determining the average number of photoelectrons per response.
• Calculating the average charge corresponding to a single photoelectron.

Main Results:

• Successful extension of absolute QE calibration to analog detectors.
• Reference-free measurement of a PMT cathode QE with 4% relative uncertainty.
• Validation through an independent experiment showing agreement with a single-photon counter.

Conclusions:

• The developed method enables accurate absolute QE calibration for analog detectors.
• This advancement is vital for applications requiring precise photon detection.
• The technique offers a reliable, reference-free approach for PMT characterization.