Ultrafast single-photon detection based on optical Kerr gates at GHz rates

TL;DR

This paper proposes a semi-analytical model demonstrating that optical Kerr gates can enable sub-picosecond, GHz-rate detection of single photons from quantum emitters, surpassing current detector limitations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of optical Kerr shutters for ultrafast single-photon detection at GHz rates, with high efficiency and sub-picosecond resolution.

Findings

Achieves sub-picosecond time resolution

Maintains gate efficiency around 85%

Enables ultrafast detection of single quantum emitters

Abstract

The ultrafast detection of single photons is currently restricted by the limited time resolution (a few picoseconds) of the available single-photon detectors. Optical gates offer a faster time resolution, but so far they have been mostly applied to ensembles of emitters. Here, we demonstrate through a semi-analytical model that the ultrafast time-resolved detection of single quantum emitters can be possible using an optical-Kerr-shutter (OKS) at GHz rates under focused illumination. This technique provides sub-picosecond time resolution, while keeping a gate efficiency at around 85 \%. These findings lay the ground for future experimental investigations on the ultrafast dynamics of single quantum emitters, with implications for quantum nanophotonics and molecular physics