Construction of a Quantum Optics Laboratory for Detecting Single Photon Coincidence Counts

POSTER

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to construct an experimental apparatus for performing undergraduate level quantum optics experiments. Specifically, our goal was to set up the equipment required for detecting coincidence counts of photons emitted from a 405-nm diode laser (pump beam). The process of spontaneous parametric down conversion was utilized to convert the 405nm pump beam into two 810nm signal and idler beams. Through the implementation of an Altera DE2 field programmable gate array, along with four single photon counting modules, real time viewing of the experimental data was performed. This experimental setup provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to perform a variety of interesting experiments, many of which are designed around the production of pairs of photons that are used to test predictions made by Quantum Theory. Some of these experiments include the Grangier experiment, single photon interference, the Quantum eraser, tests of local realism, and tests of entangled and mixed states.

Authors

  • Jason Harrington

    Francis Marion University

  • J.K. Hwang

    Western Kentucky University, University of Pardubice, Francis Marion University, Clemson University Professor, Francis Marion University Professor, Undergraduate Administrator, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Austin Peay State University, University Strenwarte-Muenchen, Seoul National University, Gatton Academy for Science and Mathematics, Alabama A\&M University, Cygnus, Center for Nanophase Materials Science at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Fisk Univ, 2Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, NOVA Center, Western Kentucky University, Department of Physics, Florida A\&M University, Tallahassee, FL-32307, Correlated Electron Materials Group, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6061 USA, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA, The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Clark Atlanta University, Deapartment of Physics \& Astronomy, Georgia State University, USA, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of South Alabama, Samford University, University of Rochester, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico State University, University of Tennessee Space Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, Georgia State University, Atlanta GA, University of Alabama at Birmingham, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Prairie View A\&M University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, University of Southern Indiana, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, JINR(Dubna), Tsinghua Univ., LBNL, Vanderbilt Univ., Vanderbilt Univ./Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, Vanderbilt Univ./Univ. of Kentucky, GANIL, Vanderbilt Univ./Union Univ., JINR, ORAU, Tsinghua University, LNBL

  • Preston Alexander

    Francis Marion University

  • R. Sethfield Smith

    Francis Marion University