• Photonics Research
  • Vol. 10, Issue 11, 2614 (2022)
Yujie Cai1, Yu Chen1、2、4、*, Xiaoning Xin1, Kun Huang1, and E Wu1、2、3、5、*
Author Affiliations
  • 1State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
  • 2Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing 401120, China
  • 3Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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    DOI: 10.1364/PRJ.467695 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Yujie Cai, Yu Chen, Xiaoning Xin, Kun Huang, E Wu. Mid-infrared single-photon upconversion spectroscopy based on temporal-spectral quantum correlation[J]. Photonics Research, 2022, 10(11): 2614 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Promoting the sensitivity of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to the single-photon level is a critical need for investigating photosensitive biological samples and chemical reactions. MIR spectroscopy based on frequency upconversion is a compelling pioneer allowing high-efficiency MIR spectral measurement with well-developed single-photon detectors, which overcomes the main limitations of high thermal noise of current MIR detectors. However, noise from other nonlinear processes caused by strong pump fields hinders the development of the upconversion-based MIR spectroscopy to reach the single-photon level. Here, a broadband MIR single-photon frequency upconversion spectroscopy is demonstrated based on the temporal-spectral quantum correlation of non-degenerate photon pairs, which is well preserved in the frequency upconversion process and is fully used in extracting the signals from tremendous noise caused by the strong pump. A correlation spectrum broader than 660 nm is achieved and applied for the demonstration of sample identification under a low incident photon flux of 0.09 average photons per pulse. The system is featured with non-destructive and robust operation, which makes single-photon-level MIR spectroscopy an appealing option in biochemical applications.
    ΔkQ(z)=kMIR+kpumpkup2πΛ(z),

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    |ψ=|0+dωhdωsf(ωh,ωs)a^h(ωh)a^s(ωs)|0,

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    a^MIR(L)=a^MIR(0)cos(|gEp|L)a^up(0)sin(|gEp|L),

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    a^up(L)=a^up(0)cos(|gEp|L)+a^MIR(0)sin(|gEp|L),

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    a^up(|gEp|L=π/2)=a^MIR(0).

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    Npair=Nh/η1=Nup/η2,(A1)

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    Ncoin,net=η1η2Npair.(A2)

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    PGR=RhRupRcoin,net,(A3)

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    Yujie Cai, Yu Chen, Xiaoning Xin, Kun Huang, E Wu. Mid-infrared single-photon upconversion spectroscopy based on temporal-spectral quantum correlation[J]. Photonics Research, 2022, 10(11): 2614
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