Toward deterministic sources: Photon generation in a fiber-cavity quantum memory

Abstract

We demonstrate the generation of photons within a fiber-cavity quantum memory, followed by later on-demand readout. Signal photons are generated by spontaneous four-wave mixing in a fiber cavity comprising a birefringent fiber with dichroic reflective end facets. The detection of the partner herald photon indicates the creation of the stored signal photon. After a delay, the signal photon is switched out of resonance with the fiber cavity by intracavity frequency translation using Bragg scattering four-wave mixing, driven by ancillary control pulses. We measure sub-Poissonian statistics in the output signal mode, with $g^{(2)}_{AC}=0.54(1)$ in the first readout bin and a readout frequency translation efficiency of $\approx$80%. The 1/e memory lifetime is $\approx$67 cavity cycles, or 1.68$\mu$s. In an alternate fiber cavity, we show a strategy for noise reduction and measure $g^{(2)}_{AC}=0.068(10)$ after one cavity cycle.