Integrated frequency comb source of heralded single photons

Abstract

Abstract:We report an integrated photon pair source based on a CMOScompatible microring resonator that generates multiple, simultaneous, and independent photon pairs at different wavelengths in a frequency comb compatible with fiber communication wavelength division multiplexing channels (200 GHz channel separation) and with a linewidth that is compatible with quantum memories (110 MHz). It operates in a self-locked pump configuration, avoiding the need for active stabilization, making it extremely robust even at very low power levels. References and links

Multifrequency sources of quantum correlated photon pairs on-chip: a path toward integrated Quantum Frequency Combs

“…On the contrary, almost all third-order devices developed so far are limited to the generation of two-mode single correlated states, and multiple correlated photon generation has only recently been investigated on chip [27,39,40]. In the next section, we report on our efforts toward the first realization of a wavelength-multiplexed source of heralded single photons on a chip compatible with both quantum memories and electronic chip fabrication processes (CMOS, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor compatibility) [39].…”

“…In the next section, we report on our efforts toward the first realization of a wavelength-multiplexed source of heralded single photons on a chip compatible with both quantum memories and electronic chip fabrication processes (CMOS, complementary metal-oxide semiconductor compatibility) [39]. We defined the obtained state as a "quantum frequency comb," to mean that we generate quantum states (in this case heralded single photons) distributed on a frequency comb.…”

On-chip quantum state generation by means of integrated frequency combs

“…high temporal-resolution singlephoton detectors and quantum memories). Most importantly, in contrast to non-resonant waveguides, where individuals photon-pairs, featured by one signal/idler frequency pair, are generally produced, resonant nonlinear cavities (e.g., microring resonators) allow the generation of correlated photon-pairs on multiple signal/idler frequency channels [9], due to their periodic and equidistant resonance structure.…”

“…These include the generation of multiplexed heralded single-photons [9], the first realization of cross-polarized photon-pairs on a photonic chip [10], the first generation of multiple twophoton entangled states [11], and the first realizations of multi-photon entangled quantum states on a photonic chip [11].…”

“…The resonators were excited with a pulsed mode-locked fiber laser. The high resonator field enhancement and the high nonlinearity allowed generating photon-pairs through SFWM on several frequency channels (corresponding to the ring resonances) symmetrically located with respect to the pump frequency [9]. Depending on the targeted application, different excitation schemes were used.…”