Near-Infrared and Telecommunication-Wavelength Photon-Pair Source in Optical Fiber

TL;DR

This paper introduces a fiber-based photon-pair source that emits highly nondegenerate pairs at telecommunication and near-infrared wavelengths, suitable for quantum networks due to its high noise immunity and room-temperature operation.

Contribution

The work demonstrates a commercially viable, highly nondegenerate photon-pair source in optical fiber with low spectral cross-talk and multiplexing potential, operable at room temperature.

Findings

High coincidence-to-accidental ratio at room temperature

Distinct spectral and spatial modes for photon pairs

Potential for quantum network deployment

Abstract

We present a photon-pair source in commercially available optical fiber that produces paired photons at telecommunication and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. The highly nondegenerate pairs are 700 nm apart: one in the 1500 nm E- and S-band telecommunication range and the other in the 830 nm NIR range. The high non-degeneracy means the photon pairs are far-detuned from Raman noise, resulting in a high coincidence-to-accidental ratio even while operating at room temperature. The source produces two spectrally and spatially distinct phase-matched processes with low spectral cross-talk, distinct transverse spatial modes in the NIR, and a single fundamental spatial mode in the telecommunication range. The source's room-temperature operation, off-the-shelf materials, and multiplexing potential make it promising for deployment in quantum networks.