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Optics Express

Optics Express

  • Editor: C. Martijn de Sterke
  • Vol. 19, Iss. 13 — Jun. 20, 2011
  • pp: 12825–12836

Optics InfoBase > Optics Express > Volume 19 > Issue 13 > Page 12825

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

Sebastian Zaske, Andreas Lenhard, and Christoph Becher  »View Author Affiliations


Optics Express, Vol. 19, Issue 13, pp. 12825-12836 (2011)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.19.012825


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Abstract

We report on single photon frequency downconversion from the red part of the spectrum (738nm) 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 1403nm 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.

© 2011 OSA

OCIS Codes
(190.4223) Nonlinear optics : Nonlinear wave mixing
(270.5565) Quantum optics : Quantum communications

ToC Category:
Nonlinear Optics

History
Original Manuscript: April 27, 2011
Revised Manuscript: June 3, 2011
Manuscript Accepted: June 3, 2011
Published: June 17, 2011

Citation
Sebastian Zaske, Andreas Lenhard, and Christoph Becher, "Efficient frequency downconversion at the single photon level from the red spectral range to the telecommunications C-band," Opt. Express 19, 12825-12836 (2011)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-19-13-12825


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