Degenerate photon-pair generation in an ultracompact silicon photonic crystal waveguide

We demonstrate degenerate, correlated photon-pair generation via slow-light-enhanced spontaneous four-wave mixing in a 96 m long silicon photonic crystal waveguide. Our device represents a more than 50 times smaller footprint than silicon nanowires. We have achieved a coincidence-to-accidental ratio as high as 47 at a photon generation rate of 0.001 pairs per pulse and 14 at a photon generation rate of 0.023 pairs per pulse, which are both higher than the useful level of 10. This demonstration provides a path to generate indistinguishable photons in an ultra-compact platform for future quantum photonic technologies. (C) 2014 Optical Society of America