Mid-infrared photon pair generation in AgGaS2

Abstract

We demonstrate nondegenerate photon pair generation by spontaneous parametric downconversion in a silver gallium sulfide AgGaS2 crystal. By tuning the pump wavelength, we achieve phase matching over a large spectral range. This allows to generate idler photons in the mid-infrared spectral range above a 6 μm wavelength with corresponding signal photons in the visible. Also, we show photon pair generation with broad spectral bandwidth. These results are a valuable step toward the development of quantum imaging and sensing techniques in the mid-infrared.