Accurate knowledge of a single-photon detector’s efficiency is a prerequisite for applications that rely on quantum effects. Also, single-photon counting offers the unique capability of measuring optical power by counting photons at the shot noise limit. To date, no such photon-counting-based standard exists. However, the international system units will soon be recast to be based on fundamental constants and laws of nature. Part of the new quantum SI could be a source- or detector-based single-photon standard. For this reason, many National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) around the world are pursuing to establish traceable or absolute calibration of single-photon detectors and sources. The primary goal of the project is to establish quantum-based absolute traceable sources and detectors for the United States and the world.
Calibrated and characterized single photon sources and detectors are building blocks of the infrastructure required to achieve widely used, industrialized quantum technologies. This project establishes quantum-based absolute traceable sources and detectors to disseminate as quantum standards in support of these pursuits.