Highly efficient heralding of entangled single photons

• DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.006707
• Publication Date: 2013-03-11T18:14:12Z
• Authors: Sven Ramelow; Alexandra Mech; Marissa Giustina; Simon Gröblacher; Witlef Wieczorek; Jörn Beyer; Adriana Lita; Brice Calkins; Thomas Gerrits; Sae Woo Nam; Anton Zeilinger; Rupert Ursin
• Keywords: Spontaneous parametric down-conversion; Quantum key distribution; Photon entanglement; Quantum teleportation; Quantum imaging

Single photons are an important prerequisite for a broad spectrum of quantum optical applications. We experimentally demonstrate heralded single-photon source based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion in collinear bulk optics, and fiber-coupled bolometric transition-edge sensors. Without correcting background, losses, or detection inefficiencies, we measure overall heralding efficiency 83 %. By violating Bell inequality, confirm the character high-quality entanglement our single which, combination with high efficiency, necessary ingredient advanced communication protocols such as one-sided device-independent key distribution.