Second-order photon correlation measurement with picosecond resolution

Abstract

The second-order correlation function of light $g^{(2)}(\tau )$ constitutes a pivotal tool to quantify the quantum behavior of an emitter and in turn its potential for quantum information applications. The experimentally accessible time resolution of $g^{(2)}(\tau )$ is usually limited by the jitter of available single photon detectors. Here, we present a versatile technique allowing to measure $g^{(2)}(\tau )$ from a large variety of light signals with a time resolution given by the pulse length of a mode-locked laser. The technique is based on frequency upconversion in a nonlinear waveguide, and we analyze its properties and limitations by modeling the pulse propagation and the frequency conversion process .We measure $g^{(2)}(\tau )$ from various signals including light from a quantum emitter - a confined exciton-polariton structure - revealing its quantum signatures at a scale of a few picoseconds and demonstrating the capability of the technique.