Up-conversion Single-photon Detector Using Multi-wavelength Sampling Techniques

Published

March 8, 2011

Author(s)

Lijun Ma, Joshua Bienfang, Oliver T. Slattery, Xiao Tang

Abstract

The maximum achievable data-rate of a quantum communication system can be critically limited by the efficiency and temporal resolution of the system s single-photon detectors. Frequency up-conversion technology can be used to increase detection efficiency for IR photons. In this paper we describe a scheme to improve the temporal resolution of an up-conversion single-photon detector using multi-wavelength optical-sampling techniques, allowing for increased the transmission rates in single-photon communications systems. We experimentally demonstrate our approach with an up-conversion detector using two spectrally and temporally distinct pump pulses, and show that it allows for high-fidelity single-photon detection at twice the rate supported by a conventional single-pump up-conversion detector. We also discuss the scheme capacity and identify important performance-limiting trade offs.

Citation

Optics Express

Volume

19

Issue

6

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

single photon detection, up-conversion detectors, temporal resolution

Citation

Ma, L. , Bienfang, J. , Slattery, O. and Tang, X. (2011), Up-conversion Single-photon Detector Using Multi-wavelength Sampling Techniques, Optics Express, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=907450 (Accessed October 7, 2025)