Efficient frequency downconversion at the single photon level from the red spectral range to the telecommunications C-band.

Sebastian Zaske, Andreas Lenhard, Christoph Becher

Universität des Saarlandes, Fachrichtung 7.2 (Experimentalphysik), Campus E2.6, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany.

Optics express 2011 Jun 20

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We report on single photon frequency downconversion from the red part of the spectrum (738 nm) to the telecommunications C-band. By mixing attenuated laser pulses with an average photon number per pulse < 1 with a strong continuous light field at 1403 nm in a periodically poled Zn:LiNbO3 ridge waveguide an internal conversion efficiency of ∼ 73% is achieved. We further investigate the noise properties of the process by measuring the output spectrum. Our results indicate that by narrow spectral filtering a quantum interface should be feasible which bridges the wavelength gap between quantum emitters like color centers in diamond emitting in the red part of the spectrum and low-loss fiber-optic telecommunications wavelengths.

Citation

Sebastian Zaske, Andreas Lenhard, Christoph Becher. Efficient frequency downconversion at the single photon level from the red spectral range to the telecommunications C-band. Optics express. 2011 Jun 20;19(13):12825-36