We present an exact model of the detection statistics of a probabilistic source of photon pairs from which a fast, simple and precise method to measure the source's brightness and photon channel transmissions is demonstrated. We measure such properties for a source based on spontaneous parametric downconversion in a periodically poled LiNbO 3 crystal producing pairs at 810 and 1550 nm wavelengths. We further validate the model by comparing the predicted and measured values for the g (2) (0) of a heralded single photon source over a wide range of the brightness. Our model is of particular use for monitoring and tuning the brightness on demand as required for various quantum communication applications. We comment on its applicability to sources involving spectral and/or spatial filtering.
Laser operation with a single trapped Ca+ ion in a
high-finesse optical cavity is predicted at a wavelength of
866 nm. Different from a conventional laser, the formation of
two thresholds can be observed. For both small and large pump strengths
the field is quasi-thermal, in an intermediate region laser light with
Poissonian and even sub-Poissonian statistics is produced. Atomic
coherence effects play an important role. The multi-level system is
treated by generalizing the pump-operator approach
(Europhys. Lett., 33 (1996) 515).
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