OPTICAL SOURCE

摘要

An integrated optical device and method for generating photons by manipulating path entanglement is provided. An integrated optical splitter splits pump light between two interferometer arms wherein each arm comprises a substantially identical photon pair source configured to be able to convert at least one pump light photon into a signal and idler photon pair. An integrated optical combiner device in optical communication with a first and a second optical output path interferes light from the first and second arms and outputs the signal and idler photons by bunching the signal and idler photons together in one of the optical output paths, or anti-bunching the signal photon in one output path and the corresponding idler photon in the other optical output path.

主权项

1. An integrated optical device for generating photons, the device comprising:
i) an integrated optical splitter configured to receive pump light; and, ii) a first integrated optical arm optically coupled to the splitter and configured to receive a first portion of the pump light output from the splitter; and, iii) a second integrated optical arm optically coupled to the splitter and configured to receive a second portion of the pump light output from the splitter;
each arm comprising a photon pair source separate from and substantially identical to the photon pair source of the other arm; each photon pair source being configured to be able to convert at least one pump light photon into a signal and idler photon pair;each of the first and second arms being configured to guide pump, signal and idler optical waveguide modes; wherein the pump, signal and idler optical waveguide modes guidable by the first arm are indistinguishable from the respective pump, signal and idler optical waveguide modes guidable by the second arm; iv) an integrated optical combiner device in optical communication with a first and a second optical output path and configured to be able to interfere light from the first and second arms and output the signal and idler photons by:
a. bunching the signal and idler photons together in one of the optical output paths; or,b. anti-bunching the signal photon in one output path and the corresponding idler photon in the other optical output path.