Abstract

Using correlated photons from spontaneous parametric downconversion, we have measured both the absolute quantum efficiencies and the time responses of four single-photon detectors. Efficiencies as high as (76.4 ± 2.3)% (at 702 nm) were seen, which to our knowledge are the highest reported single-photon detection efficiencies. An auxiliary retroreflection mirror was found to increase the net detection efficiency by as much as a factor of 1.19. The narrowest time profile for coincidences between two detectors displays a peak with 300 ps FWHM. We also investigated the presence of afterpulses and the effects of saturation and varying device parameters.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

Absolute measurement of detector quantum efficiency using parametric downconversion

J. G. Rarity, K. D. Ridley, and P. R. Tapster
Appl. Opt. 26(21) 4616-4619 (1987)

Photon counting with passively quenched germanium avalanche

P. C. M. Owens, J. G. Rarity, P. R. Tapster, D. Knight, and P. D. Townsend
Appl. Opt. 33(30) 6895-6901 (1994)

Single-photon detection beyond 1 μm: performance of commercially available germanium photodiodes

A. Lacaita, P. A. Francese, F. Zappa, and S. Cova
Appl. Opt. 33(30) 6902-6918 (1994)

Intercomparison of a correlated-photon-based method to measure detector quantum efficiency

Alan Migdall, Stefania Castelletto, Ivo Pietro Degiovanni, and Maria Luisa Rastello
Appl. Opt. 41(15) 2914-2922 (2002)

Measuring the absolute photodetection efficiency using photon number correlations

Michael Lindenthal and Johannes Kofler
Appl. Opt. 45(24) 6059-6064 (2006)