量子通信の安全性と量子計算の信頼性を確立する“光子のものさし” -1光子単位で正確に出力できる、光通信波長帯(C-band)全域で波長可変の光源を開発

2025-08-06 産業技術総合研究所

産総研は、光通信で使われるC-band全域(1530〜1565nm)で1光子単位の出力制御が可能な波長可変光源「光子のものさし」を開発。国家標準にトレーサブルなこの光源により、光子検出器の性能(検出効率)を全波長域で高精度に評価できるようになった。これにより量子暗号通信や光量子コンピュータの安全性と信頼性向上が期待される。光子数を正確に定義し測定可能にした本技術は、将来の量子社会を支える重要な基盤となる。

量子通信の安全性と量子計算の信頼性を確立する“光子のものさし” -1光子単位で正確に出力できる、光通信波長帯(C-band)全域で波長可変の光源を開発
波長によって目盛りを自在に変えられる“光子のものさし”のイメージ

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Cバンド波長における移行エッジセンサーの検出効率の評価 Evaluation of detection efficiency of a transition edge sensor at C-band wavelength

Takeshi Jodoi, Tetsuya Tsuruta, Mauro Rajteri, Daiji Fukuda
Optics & Laser Technology  Available online: 25 July 2025
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2025.113414

Highlights

  • We developed a calibration system for the C-band wavelength using laser pulses.
  • Initial states were generated via laser by switching acoustic optical module.
  • Input state photon statistics were evaluated by a second-order correlation function.
  • Wavelength-dependent detection efficiency was precisely determined.
  • Detection efficiency was evaluated by comparing experimental and simulation values.

Abstract

Photon-number-resolving detectors face strict demands regarding detection efficiency to meet the needs of quantum information processing. We constructed a system that can accurately evaluate system detection efficiency of a photon-number-resolving detector. We generated an optical pulse containing an arbitrary number of photons for the initial states by attenuated laser light; this pulse was used to evaluate the detection efficiency of the device under test. To generate this pulse, we modulated a continuous wavelength tunable laser using an acoustic optical modulator. From the photon statistics of the initial states, we found a second-order correlation function that was almost 1 at any wavelength, and these photon statistics followed a Poisson distribution. For the device under test, we evaluated the detection efficiency of a transition edge sensor and we employed two methods to calculate the number of detected photons. This value was calculated based on each photon state (method 1) or based on the zero photon state by assuming a Poisson distribution (method 2). Although the results of both methods were comparable within the range of uncertainty, method 2 yielded smaller uncertainty than method 1. We found that the wavelength-dependent detection efficiency was explained by the photon absorptance characteristics of the device under test. Additionally, the system detection efficiency varied from approximately 87 % to 93 %, and the expanded uncertainty values of methods 1 and 2 were 4.1 % and 1.5 %, respectively. This system enables the accurate evaluation of quantum states of photons at various wavelengths.

1701物理及び化学
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