title: Quantum model of light transmission in array waveguide gratings.
abstract: We develop, to the best of our knowledge, the first model for an array waveguide grating (AWG) device subject to quantum inputs and analyze its basic transformation functionalities for single-photon states. A commercial, cyclic AWG is experimentally characterized with weak input coherent states as a means of exploring its behaviour under realistic quantum detection. In particular it is shown the existence of a cutoff value of the average photon number below which quantum crosstalk between AWG ports is negligible with respect to dark counts. These results can be useful when considering the application of AWG devices to integrated quantum photonic systems.
authors.affiliation: ITEAM Research Institute, Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain. jcapmany@iteam.upv.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capmany
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Fernández-Pousa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011789:Quantum Theory; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*