Single-photon frequency shifting with a quadrature phase-shift keying modulator

Abstract

Deterministic frequency manipulation of single photons is an essential tool for quantum communications and quantum networks. We demonstrate a 15.65 GHz frequency shift for classical and nonclassical light using a commercially available quadrature phase-shift keying modulator. The measured spectrum of frequency-shifted single photons indicates a high carrier-to-sideband ratio of 30 dB. We illustrate our frequency shifter’s utility in quantum photonics by performing Hong–Ou–Mandel quantum interference between two photons whose initial frequency spectra overlap only partially, and showing visibility improvement from 62.7 to 89.1% after one of the photons undergoes a corrective frequency shift.