Heralding on the Detection of Zero Photons

TL;DR

This paper introduces an experimental method for heralding on zero photons in quantum optics, revealing how detector efficiency and dark counts influence zero-photon detection accuracy, demonstrated through Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometry.

Contribution

It presents a practical technique for zero-photon heralding using standard detectors, expanding quantum information applications beyond single-photon heralding.

Findings

Detector efficiency affects zero-photon heralding accuracy.

Dark counts have a counterintuitive impact on detection.

Experimental validation in a Hong-Ou-Mandel setup.

Abstract

Although heralding signals in quantum optics experiments are typically based on the detection of exactly one photon, it has recently been theoretically shown that heralding based on the detection of zero photons can be useful in a number of quantum information applications. Here we describe an experimental technique for "heralding on zero photons" using conventional single-photon detectors and time-tagging methods. We find that detector efficiency and dark count rates play a counterintuitive role in the ability to accurately detect zero photons, and demonstrate these effects in an experiment that involves heralding on zero photons in the well-known Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometer.