Luminescence-induced noise in single photon sources based on BBO crystals

TL;DR

This paper investigates the intrinsic luminescence of BBO crystals, identifying it as a fundamental noise source in single-photon sources based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion, affecting quantum optics experiments.

Contribution

It provides a detailed spectral and temporal analysis of BBO luminescence and assesses its impact on the quality of single-photon state preparation.

Findings

Luminescence is a significant, non-removable noise source.

Luminescence spectral and temporal properties influence photon purity.

Impact on quantum optics experiments is quantitatively evaluated.

Abstract

Single-photon sources based on the process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion play a key role in various applied disciplines of quantum optics. We characterize intrinsic luminescence of BBO crystals as a source of non-removable noise in quantum-optics experiments. By analysing its spectral and temporal properties together with its intensity, we evaluate the impact of luminescence on single-photon state preparation using spontaneous parametric down-conversion.