Experimental realization of a low-noise heralded single photon source

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a heralded single-photon source with significantly reduced background noise by using a programmable optical switch controlled by the herald photon, improving photon purity for quantum applications.

Contribution

The work introduces a low-noise heralded single-photon source utilizing a FPGA-controlled optical switch for better photon purity, advancing quantum photonics technology.

Findings

Achieved lower background photon levels in the output channel.

Implemented a FPGA-controlled optical switch for heralded photon control.

Enhanced photon source purity for quantum information processing.

Abstract

We present a heralded single-photon source with a much lower level of unwanted background photons in the output channel by using the herald photon to control a shutter in the heralded channel. The shutter is implemented using a simple field programable gate array controlled optical switch.