Quantum light source and detector metrology

Clark, Rachel 2023. Quantum light source and detector metrology. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Single-photon technology forms the foundation upon which emerging quantum technologies are being developed and experimentally verified. Both the generation and detection of single-photons are crucial to many photonic technologies, most notably quantum communications and computing. If these technologies are to be deployed in the same way that classical computing and telecommunications has in recent decades, scalable fabrication processes must be established. Additionally, our understanding and characterisation techniques to assess the performance of novel devices must continue to develop alongside their increasingly demanding measurement requirements. To implement these devices to the best of their promised potential, new metrological techniques that push the boundaries of experimental uncertainty must be explored. In this thesis, I will present my work on single-photon source and detector metrology. First, experimental and computational considerations for measuring photon correlation of second- and third-order will be discussed. Then, a numerical model will be presented to demonstrate how real single-photon detectors are incapable of accurately resolving correlation at high incident photon rates. Next, a process for fabricating bright and pure single-photon sources based on quantum dots in semiconductor micropillar structures will be presented, and the single-photon characteristics confirmed with hallmark measurements. Finally, a metrological study of these quantum dot sources closes the quantum radiometry gap by traceably linking the single-photon flux to the SI, and applications for applying this flux to calibrate single-photon detectors is discussed. With this work, new insights into experimental applications of bunched and antibunched light sources for single-photon detector characterisation have been demonstrated.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Engineering
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1).Single-photon source 2).Single-photon detector 3).Single-photon metrology 4).Quantum optics 5).Semiconductor microfabrication 6).Photon statistics
Funders:	Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing CDT EP S024441/1
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	17 April 2024
Last Modified:	17 Apr 2024 11:31
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/168003

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