High accuracy calibration of photon-counting detectors "on demand"

Sergey V. Polyakov; Alan Migdall

doi:10.1117/12.723218

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11 May 2007 High accuracy calibration of photon-counting detectors "on demand"

Sergey V. Polyakov; Alan Migdall

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Proceedings Volume 6583, Photon Counting Applications, Quantum Optics, and Quantum Cryptography; 65830A (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723218
Event: International Congress on Optics and Optoelectronics, 2007, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

We introduce a portable, inexpensive and reliable scheme for calibration of photon-counting detectors based on our recent comparison of two independent high accuracy primary standard calibration methods. We have verified the calibration method based on two-photon correlations and its uncertainty by comparing it to a substitution method using a conventionally calibrated transfer detector tied to a national primary standard detector scale. We have reported a relative standard uncertainty for the correlated-photon method of 0.18 % (k=1) and for the substitution method of 0.17 % (k=1). Further we established, by direct comparison in a series of measurements, that the two methods agree to within the uncertainty of the comparison, with the difference being 0.14(14) %. While this experiment can be repeated in the laboratory setting, the calibration methods are not appropriate for everyday use. However, using photon-counting detector properties brought to light by our comparison of the two methods we introduce a relatively low cost calibration technique that will allow for 0.5% (k=1) uncertainty.

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Sergey V. Polyakov and Alan Migdall "High accuracy calibration of photon-counting detectors "on demand"", Proc. SPIE 6583, Photon Counting Applications, Quantum Optics, and Quantum Cryptography, 65830A (11 May 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723218

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