Domain-engineered PPLN for entangled photon generation and other quantum information applications

Published

May 1, 2014

Author(s)

Paulina S. Kuo, Jason S. Pelc, Oliver T. Slattery, Lijun Ma, Xiao Tang

Abstract

We describe the design and application of domain-engineered periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) for use as a source of entangled photons and for other tools in quantum information and communications. By specially designing and controlling the PPLN poling pattern, multiple nonlinear optical processes can be simultaneously phasematched. This capability can be used to generate polarization-entangled photon pairs through type-II spontaneous parametric downconversion. The single PPLN crystal is designed to produce both the |HV and |VH states where the downconverted photons are distinguishable by wavelengths, which enables generation of post-selection-free, polarization-entangled twin photons. We describe the design and fabrication of the PPLN crystal, and initial experimental results for downconversion of a 775 nm pump to 1532 nm and 1567 nm orthogonally polarized photons. We also discuss other applications of engineered optical frequency conversion for quantum information including the use of dual-wavelength upconversion as a beamsplitter to route or analyze photons.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of SPIE

Conference Dates

April 14-17, 2014

Conference Location

Brussels

Conference Title

SPIE Photonics Europe

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2058567

Keywords

quantum optics, nonlinear optics, parametric processes, polarization entangled pair source, spontaneous parametric downconversion, entanglement

Citation

Kuo, P. , Pelc, J. , Slattery, O. , Ma, L. and Tang, X. (2014), Domain-engineered PPLN for entangled photon generation and other quantum information applications, Proceedings of SPIE, Brussels, -1, [online], https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2058567 (Accessed October 7, 2025)