Ultra-bright, narrow linewidth photon source for generation of entangled photon pairs or heralded single photons
AssigneeQunnect, Inc.
InventorsAlexander Craddock, Yang Wang, Felipe Giraldo, Rourke Sekelsky, Mael Flament, Mehdi Namazi
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Abstract
Systems and methods for generating entangled photon pairs comprising two photons having different wavelengths are provided. The techniques include pumping an atomic vapor of an alkali atomic species with a pump laser and a coupling laser that are configured to drive a spontaneous four-wave mixing process within the atomic vapor. The pump laser and the coupling laser are detuned by large detunings relative to atomic transitions of the alkali atomic species, increasing brightness of the entangled pair photon source.
Claims58
A photon source, comprising:
- an atomic vapor cell comprising atoms of an alkali atomic species, the atomic vapor cell being disposed in beam paths of a first laser beam and a second laser beam generated during operation of the photon source, wherein:
- the alkali atomic species comprises a first energy level, a second energy level, and a third energy level, wherein the second energy level is at a higher energy than the first energy level, and the third energy level is at a higher energy than the second energy level, and, during operation of the photon source:
- the first laser beam has a first wavelength configured with a first detuning relative to a first atomic transition in the alkali atomic species, the first atomic transition being between the first energy level and the second energy level, and
- the second laser beam has a second wavelength configured with a second detuning relative to a second atomic transition in the alkali atomic species, the second atomic transition being between the second and third energy levels, and the second detuning being based at least in part on the first detuning.
A method of generating an entangled pair of photons from an atomic vapor cell comprising atoms of an alkali atomic species, the alkali atomic species comprising a first energy level, a second energy level having a higher energy than the first energy level, and a third energy level having a higher energy than the second energy level, the method comprising:
- generating a first laser beam using a first laser, the first laser beam having a first wavelength configured with a first detuning relative to a first atomic transition in the alkali atomic species, the first atomic transition being between the first energy level and the second energy level;
- generating a second laser beam using a second laser, wherein the second laser beam has a second wavelength configured with a second detuning relative to a second atomic transition in the alkali atomic species, the second atomic transition being between the second and third energy levels, and the second detuning being based at least in part on the first detuning;
- causing, by steering the first and second laser beams through a same region of the atomic vapor cell, a four-wave mixing process in the atoms;
- and
- generating, as a result of the four-wave mixing process, the entangled pair of photons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.