Abstract: Single-photon detectors and sources are key to increasing the utility of applications ranging from remote sensing and medical imaging to quantum information. We present a summary of our efforts to develop enhanced single-photon detectors, sources, and processors. These include better detectors that allow improved counting rates, lower background rates, and photon number resolution. In the area of sources we are developing single-photon sources that are more efficient, have higher production rates, have lower background rates, and are better able to produce entanglement, which is key to quantum information applications. As for processors, we are working on a quantum memory for entanglement storage. In addition to the device development efforts, we are working to improve the metrology of these devices and to disseminate that improved accuracy to the single-photon community. Finally we are using the results of all of these efforts to test questions of fundamental physics and even one of the oldest and most fundamental questions of all - What is the nature of Reality? |
