Recent Progress in Short and Mid-Infrared Single-Photon Generation: A Review

Abstract

The generation of single photons in the mid-infrared spectral region is attracting the interest of scientific and technological research, motivated by the potential improvements that many important and emerging applications, such as quantum sensing, metrology and communication, could benefit from. This review reports the progress in short and mid-infrared single photon generation, focusing on probabilistic sources based on the two non-linear processes of spontaneous parametric downconversion (SPDC) and four wave mixing (FWM). On one hand, numerical simulations of mid-infrared SPDC are described as a powerful tool to assist and guide the experimental realization, along with the implementation and engineering of novel non-linear materials. On the other hand, the advantages offered by FWM in silicon waveguides in terms of integration, miniaturization and manufacturability are presented, providing an optimal technology for integrated quantum applications.

Nanoscale thermoelectric detection pixel for single-photon detection from far ultraviolet to near infrared

“…Single-photon sources and detectors are in demand in various fields of science and technology 1 – 4 Some progress has been made in semiconductor single-photon detector technologies. Single-photon avalanche diodes have picosecond time resolution, low input voltage, and low cost 5 , 6 .…”

A highly sensitive broadband superconducting thermoelectric single-photon detector

“…T ES bolometers reached a noise equivalent power (N EP ) on the order of 10 −19 W/Hz 1/2 [3], while KIDs showed a N EP of ∼ 10 −18 W/Hz 1/2 [4]. Moreover, these structures showed a frequency resolution of several hundreds of GHz when operated as single-photon detectors [5,6]. To push detection technology towards higher sensitivities and lower frequencies, miniaturization of the sensing element was ridden [7].…”

Single Photon Approach for Chirality Sensing

“…These quantum approaches, which aim to improve the precision while keeping the probe beam in the regime of low intensity (down to single-photon levels) [25], enable promising performances [26,27] and, in principle, the possibility to overcome the standard quantum limit [28,29]. Moreover, the employment of a twin correlated photon source greatly reduces the dark counts, which are not negligible, especially in the long wavelength range [27,30].…”