Optimal photon generation from spontaneous Raman processes in cold atoms

Abstract

Spontaneous Raman processes in cold atoms have been widely used in the past decade for generating single photons. Here, we present a method to optimise their efficiencies for given atomic coherences and optical depths. We give a simple and complete recipe that can be used in present-day experiments, attaining near-optimal single photon emission.

Keywords

• single photon sources
• quantum networks
• quantum communication