Quantum transduction of telecommunications-band single photons from a quantum dot by frequency upconversion

• Published in: Nature photonics Vol. 4; no. 11; pp. 786 - 791
• Main Authors: Srinivasan, Kartik, Rakher, Matthew T, Ma, Lijun, Slattery, Oliver, Tang, Xiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.11.2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/624/399/1017; 639/624/400/482; Applied and Technical Physics; Bolometer; infrared, submillimeter wave, microwave and radiowave receivers and detectors; Classical and quantum physics: mechanics and fields; Correlation; Exact sciences and technology; Frequency conversion ; harmonic generation, including high-order harmonic generation; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Infrared, submillimeter wave, microwave and radiowave instruments, equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Internal conversion; Nonlinear optics; Optics; Photons; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum computation; Quantum dots; Quantum information; Quantum Physics; Quantum theory; Semiconductors; Telecommunications; Upconversion; Wavelengths; Infrared detectors; Optical fibers; Quantum system; Upconversion; Radiation detectors; Quantum dots; Single photon; Single photon source; Quantum computing; Visible radiation; Quantum information; Optical frequency conversion; Nonlinear optics
• ISSN: 1749-4885; 1749-4893
• DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2010.221

Transducing non-classical states of light from one wavelength to another is required for integrating disparate quantum systems that take advantage of telecommunications-band photons for optical-fibre transmission of quantum information and near-visible, stationary systems for manipulation and storage. In addition, transducing a single-photon source at 1.3 µm to visible wavelengths would be integral to linear optical quantum computation because of near-infrared detection challenges. Recently, transduction at single-photon power levels has been accomplished through frequency upconversion, but it has yet to be demonstrated for a true single-photon source. Here, we transduce triggered single photons from a semiconductor quantum dot at 1.3 µm to 710 nm with 21% (75%) total detection (internal conversion) efficiency. We demonstrate that the upconverted signal maintains the quantum character of the original light, yielding a second-order intensity correlation, g (2) ( τ ), that shows that the optical field is composed of single photons with g (2) (0) = 0.165 < 0.5. Colour conversion of single photons may allow the advantages of quantum systems operating at different wavelengths to be simultaneously utilized. Researchers demonstrate the colour conversion of triggered single photons from a semiconductor quantum dot between 1.3 µm to 710 nm. The up-converted signal maintains the quantum character of the original light.