BEP and MEP projects

Students can do their BEP and MEP projects at the Optics Research Groups. See below for the projects.

Master project: Calibration of single photon detectors using entangled states of light generated by parametric down conversion

Single photon detectors are very relevant in several experiments in Physics where low light level is unavoidable. It is also the key technology for experiments in quantum optics, since besides the ability to detect single photons, high quantum efficiency is also very important.

In our lab, we fabricate single photon detectors based on superconducting nanowires. These detectors have very high efficiency (above 99%) and very high time resolution (in the picosecond regime). However, as the efficiency becomes very high, it is difficult to determine the exact efficiency with an accuracy < 1%.  

In this project, we will build an experimental setup to generate entangled photons with the purpose of using them to calibrate the efficiency of superconducting nanowire single photon detectors. This method allows absolute calibration of the detectors in the photon counting regime. Once the setup is ready, we will use it to calibrate some of our own detectors.

For more information, please contact Silvania Pereira.