title: Efficient and low-noise single-photon detection in 1550 nm communication band by frequency upconversion in periodically poled LiNbO3 waveguides.
abstract: We demonstrate 1500 nm band single-photon detection with low dark-count noise and a potentially high efficiency, which may allow long distance and high-bit-rate quantum key distribution. By developing frequency upconversion devices based on periodically poled lithium niobate waveguides, which are specifically designed to use a pump wavelength longer than that of communication-band photons, we completely eliminate the dark-count noise caused by parasitic nonlinear processes in the waveguide. We observed an internal conversion efficiency as high as 40% and demonstrated scaling down to the single photon level while maintaining a background dark-count rate of 10(2)s(-1).
authors.affiliation: NTT Basic Research Laboratories, NTT Corporation, Kanagawa, Japan. leroi@will.brl.ntt.co.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asobe
authors.forename: T
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authors.lastname: Honjo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takesue
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tadanaga
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazawa