Measurements of the dependence of the photon-number distribution on the number of modes in parametric down-conversion

TL;DR

This study investigates how the photon-number distribution in parametric down-conversion depends on the number of modes collected, using SiPM detectors and a new model for detector crosstalk.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analytical model for SiPM crosstalk and demonstrates how mode number influences photon statistics in PDC experiments.

Findings

Photon-number distribution varies with the number of modes.

Stimulated emission and mode partitioning affect photon counts.

New SiPM crosstalk model improves data analysis.

Abstract

Optical parametric down-conversion (PDC) is a central tool in quantum optics experiments. The number of collected down-converted modes greatly affects the quality of the produced photon state. We use Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) number-resolving detectors in order to directly observe the photon-number distribution of a PDC source, and show its dependence on the number of collected modes. Additionally, we show how the stimulated emission of photons and the partition of photons into several modes determine the overall photon number. We present a novel analytical model for the optical crosstalk effect in SiPM detectors, and use it to analyze the results.