Synchronized source of indistinguishable photons for quantum networks

Published

May 2, 2024

Author(s)

Nijil Lal Cheriya Koyyottummal, Ivan Burenkov, Ya-Shian Li-Baboud, Jabir Marakkarakath Vadakkepurayil, Paulina Kuo, Thomas Gerrits, Oliver T. Slattery, Sergey Polyakov

Abstract

We present a source of indistinguishable photons at telecom wavelength, synchronized to an external clock, for the use in distributed quantum networks. We characterize the indistinguishability of photons generated in independent parametric down-conversion events using a Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer, and show non-classical interference with coalescence, C = 0.83(5). We also demonstrate the synchronization to an external clock within sub-picosecond timing jitter, which is significantly shorter than the single-photon wavepacket duration of ≈ 35 ps. Our source enables scalable quantum protocols over multi-node, long-distance optical networks using network-based clock recovery systems.

Citation

Optics Express

Volume

32

Issue

10

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.521083

Local Download

Keywords

Quantum Network, Indistinguishable Photons, Synchronization, Timing Jitter, Quantum communications

Citation

Cheriya Koyyottummal, N. , Burenkov, I. , Li-Baboud, Y. , Marakkarakath Vadakkepurayil, J. , Kuo, P. , Gerrits, T. , Slattery, O. and Polyakov, S. (2024), Synchronized source of indistinguishable photons for quantum networks, Optics Express, [online], https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.521083, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=957156 (Accessed October 7, 2025)