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Alexander Ling

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Ling.

85 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2015

Space qualified nanosatellite electronics platform for photon pair experiments

We report the design and implementation of a complete electronics platform for conducting a quantum optics experiment that will be operated on board a 1U CubeSat (a 10 x 10 x 10 cm satellite). The quantum optics experiment is designed to produce polarization-entangled photon pairs using non-linear optical crystals and requires opto-electronic components such as a pump laser, single photon detectors and liquid crystal based polarization rotators in addition to passive optical elements. The platform provides mechanical support for the optical assembly. It also communicates autonomously with the host satellite to provide experiment data for transmission to a ground station. A limited number of commands can be transmitted from ground to the platform enabling it to switch experimental modes. This platform requires less than 1.5W for all operations, and is space qualified. The implementation of this electronics platform is a major step on the road to operating quantum communication experiments using nanosatellites.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2015

Extreme environmental testing of a rugged correlated photon source

Experiments in long distance quantum key distribution have motivated the development of ruggedised single photon sources, capable of producing useful correlations even when removed from the warm, nurturing environment found in most optics laboratories. As part of an ongoing pro- gramme to place such devices into low earth orbit (LEO), we have developed and built a number of rugged single photon sources based on spontaneous parametric downconversion. In order to evalu- ate device reliability, we have subjected our design to various thermal, mechanical and atmospheric stresses. Our results show that while such a device may tolerate launch into orbit, operation in orbit and casual mishandling by graduate students, it is probably unable to survive the forcible disassembly of a launch vehicle at the top of a ball of rapidly expanding and oxidising kerosene and liquid oxygen.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2014

Near-space flight of a correlated photon system

We report the successful test flight of a device for generating and monitoring correlated photon pairs under near-space conditions up to 35.5km altitude. Data from ground based qualification tests and the high altitude experiment demonstrate that the device continues to operate even under harsh environmental conditions. The design of the rugged, compact and power-efficient photon pair system is presented. This design enables autonomous photon pair systems to be deployed on low-resource platforms such as nanosatellites hosting remote nodes of a quantum key distribution network. These results pave the way for tests of entangled photon technology in low earth orbit.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2013

Silicon avalanche photodiode operation and lifetime analysis for small satellites

Silicon avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are sensitive to operating temperature fluctuations and are also susceptible to radiation flux expected in satellite-based quantum experiments. We introduce a low power voltage adjusting mechanism to overcome the effects of in-orbit temperature fluctuations. We also present data on the performance of Si APDs after irradiation (gamma-ray and proton beam). Combined with an analysis of expected orbital irradiation, we propose that a Si APD in a 400 km equatorial orbit may operate beyond the lifetime of the satellite.

physics.ins-det↗
arXiv2010

Enhancing image contrast using coherent states and photon number resolving detectors

We experimentally map the transverse profile of diffraction-limited beams using photon-number-resolving detectors. We observe strong compression of diffracted beam profiles for high detected photon number. This effect leads to higher contrast than a conventional irradiance profile between two Airy disk-beams separated by the Rayleigh criterion.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2009

Mode expansion and Bragg filtering enable a high-fidelity fiber-based photon-pair source

We report the development of a fiber-based single spatial mode source of photon-pairs where the efficiency of extracting photon-pairs is improved over a previous source [18] through the use of fiber-end expansion and Bragg filters. This improvement in efficiency enabled a spectrally bright and pure photon-pair source having a small second-order correlation function (0.03) and a raw spectral brightness of 44,700 pairs/(s nm mW). The source can be configured to generate entangled photon-pairs,characterized via optimal and minimal quantum state tomography, to have a fidelity of 97% and tangle of 92%, without subtracting any background.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2009

Testing quantum correlations versus single-particle properties within Leggett's model and beyond

Quantum theory predicts and experiments confirm that nature can produce correlations between distant events that are nonlocal in the sense of violating a Bell inequality. Nevertheless, Bell's strong sentence {\it Correlations cry out for explanations} remains relevant. The maturing of quantum information science and the discovery of the power of nonlocal correlations, e.g. for cryptographic key distribution beyond the standard Quantum Key Distribution schemes, strengthen Bell's wish and make it even more timely. In 2003, Leggett proposed an alternative model for nonlocal correlations [Found. Phys. 33, 1469 (2003)], that he proved to be incompatible with quantum predictions. We present here a new approach to this model, along with new inequalities for testing it. Remarkably these inequalities can be derived in a very simple way, assuming only the non-negativity of probability distributions; they are also stronger than previously published Leggett-type inequalities. The simplest of these inequalities is experimentally violated. Then we go beyond Leggett's model, and show that one cannot ascribe even partially defined individual properties to the components of a maximally entangled pair.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2008

Experimental quantum key distribution based on a Bell test

We report on a complete free-space field implementation of a modified Ekert91 protocol for quantum key distribution using entangled photon pairs. For each photon pair we perform a random choice between key generation and a Bell inequality. The amount of violation is used to determine the possible knowledge of an eavesdropper to ensure security of the distributed final key.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2008

Absolute emission rates of Spontaneous Parametric Down Conversion into single transverse Gaussian modes

We provide an estimate on the absolute values of the emission rate of photon pairs produced by spontaneous parametric down conversion in a bulk crystal when all interacting fields are in single transverse Gaussian modes. Both collinear and non-collinear configurations are covered, and we arrive at a fully analytical expression for the collinear case. Our results agree reasonably well with values found in typical experiments, which allows this model to be used for understanding the dependency on the relevant experimental parameters.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2007

Experimental Falsification of Leggett's Non-Local Variable Model

Bell's theorem guarantees that no model based on local variables can reproduce quantum correlations. Also some models based on non-local variables, if subject to apparently "reasonable" constraints, may fail to reproduce quantum physics. In this paper, we introduce a family of inequalities, which allow testing Leggett's non-local model versus quantum physics, and which can be tested in an experiment without additional assumptions. Our experimental data falsify Leggett's model and are in agreement with quantum predictions.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2006

Experimental Polarization State Tomography using Optimal Polarimeters

We report on the experimental implementation of a polarimeter based on a scheme known to be optimal for obtaining the polarization vector of ensembles of spin-1/2 quantum systems, and the alignment procedure for this polarimeter is discussed. We also show how to use this polarimeter to estimate the polarization state for identically prepared ensembles of single photons and photon pairs and extend the method to obtain the density matrix for generic multi-photon states. State reconstruction and performance of the polarimeter is illustrated by actual measurements on identically prepared ensembles of single photons and polarization entangled photon pairs.

quant-ph↗
arXiv2006

An Optimal Photon Counting Polarimeter

We present experimental results on a method to perform polarimetry on ensembles of single photons. Our setup is based on a measurement method known to be optimal for estimating the state of two level systems. The setup has no moving parts and is sensitive to weak sources (emitting single photons) of light as it relies on photon counting and has potential applications in both classical polarization measurements and quantum communication scenarios. In our implementation, we are able to reconstruct the Stokes parameters of pure polarization states with an average fidelity of 99.9%.

quant-ph↗