Spontaneous parametric processes in optical fibers: a comparison

TL;DR

This paper compares spontaneous four wave mixing and third-order spontaneous parametric downconversion in optical fibers, analyzing their quantum states, efficiency, and phase-matching to guide photon source development.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparative analysis including theoretical expressions, spectral plots, and efficiency evaluations for both processes in optical fibers.

Findings

Both processes have distinct phase-matching characteristics.

Conversion efficiency varies with experimental parameters.

The study guides optimal photon-pair and triplet source design.

Abstract

We study the processes of spontaneous four wave mixing and of third-order spontaneous parametric downconversion in optical fibers, as the basis for the implementation of photon-pair and photon-triplet sources. We present a comparative analysis of the two processes including expressions for the respective quantum states and plots of the joint spectral intensity, a discussion of phasematching characteristics, and expressions for the conversion efficiency. We have also included a comparative study based on numerical results for the conversion efficiency for the two sources, as a function of several key experimental parameters.