All-fiber photon-pair source for quantum communications
US6897434B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 2003 |
| Grant date | May 24, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1608
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A source and/or method of generating quantum-correlated and/or entangled photon pairs using parametric fluorescence in a fiber Sagnac loop. The photon pairs are generated in the 1550 nm fiber-optic communication band and detected by a detection system including InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes operating in a gated Geiger mode. A generation rate>103 pairs/s is observed, a rate limited only by available detection electronics. The nonclassical nature of the photon correlations in the pairs is demonstrated. This source, given its spectral properties and robustness, is well suited for use in fiber-optic quantum communication and cryptography networks. The detection system also provides high rate of photon counting with negligible after pulsing and associated high quantum efficiency and also low dark count rate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.