NIST researchers have developed a new method for generating single photons, a critical component for building practical quantum computers. The gated photon source they created uses a bright green laser beam to produce pairs of photons at different wavelengths, with the “blue” beam acting as a herald signal to indicate when a photon is ready to be sent to the quantum processor.
One of the main challenges in quantum computing is ensuring that only one photon is sent at a time, and that it arrives when expected. The NIST team’s solution involves a simple gate that opens only when the herald photon is detected, allowing the second photon to pass through. This ensures that photons are produced only when needed, preventing errors in the quantum processor.
The researchers have also outlined a way to create multiple individual photons at different wavelengths using silicon, a material well-understood by the electronics industry. This is an important step towards creating integrated photon sources that can be mass-produced and reliably used in quantum computers.
The development of this gated photon source represents a significant advancement in the field of quantum computing, as it addresses one of the major challenges in building practical quantum computers. The team’s work has been published in Optics Express and could pave the way for more efficient and reliable quantum computing technologies in the future.
Keywords: photon, quantum, single-photon
