Heralded generation of ultrafast single photons in pure quantum States.
We present an experimental demonstration of heralded single photons prepared in pure quantum states from a parametric down-conversion source. It is shown that, through controlling the modal structure of the photon pair emission, one can generate pairs in factorable states and thence eliminate the need for spectral filters in multiple-source interference schemes. Indistinguishable heralded photons were generated in two independent spectrally engineered sources and Hong-Ou-Mandel interference observed between them without spectral filters. The measured visibility of 94.4% sets a minimum bound on the mean photon purity.
Mosley
Peter J
PJ
Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, United Kingdom. p.mosley1@physics.ox.ac.uk
Lundeen
Jeff S
JS
Smith
Brian J
BJ
Wasylczyk
Piotr
P
U'Ren
Alfred B
AB
Silberhorn
Christine
C
Walmsley
Ian A
IA