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Source and Detector Technologies for Optical Quantum Information

Radhika Rangarajan, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

(Session 5 : Friday from 5:00-7:00)

Abstract. Scalable quantum computation and quantum communication require the ability to create and detect multiple qubits with high fidelity. We report on our progress in developing both source and detector technologies high-brightness high-fidelity polarization entangled sources and high-efficiency photon-number resolving detectors. High-fidelity pulsed entanglement sources are essential for various quantum communication protocols, including quantum teleportation. By using temporal and spatial compensation, we can generate high-fidelity entanglement from pulsed and diode laser sources. We have demonstrated for the first time a robust, high quality, large aperture source of degenerate and non-degenerate Type-I entangled photons using BiBO, a highly nonlinear non-hygroscopic biaxial crystal, with a diode laser source. We also report on our progress in developing a high-fidelity Type-I source using an ultrafast pulsed source. On the detector front, we report on our current status in developing Visible Light Photon Counters (VLPCs) and Solid State Photo-Multipliers (SSPMs). VLPCs and SSPMs are photon number resolving detectors that have high quantum efficiency. Past measured efficiency for both the detectors were limited to less than 88% due to in-coupling losses. We are currently working to improve the overall performance of these detectors by a) reducing coupling losses and blocking infrared background, b) using improved low-noise electronics, and c) incorporating novel cryogenic designs.