{"id":2699,"date":"2026-01-23T00:30:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T00:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cleoconference.org\/?page_id=2699"},"modified":"2026-01-23T00:30:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T00:30:26","slug":"sergey-v-polyakov","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cleoconference.org\/sergey-v-polyakov\/","title":{"rendered":"Sergey V. Polyakov"},"content":{"rendered":"

Short Course<\/h2><\/div>

CLEO<\/h2><\/div>

The premier international forum for scientific and technical optics.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

REGISTER NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Sergey\u00a0<\/span>V.\u00a0<\/span>Polyakov<\/span><\/p><\/h3><\/div>

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Course\u202fTitle: <\/strong>Single Photon Generation, Detection, and Applications<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Course\u202fLevel:<\/strong> Advanced Beginner, Intermediate<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Course\u202fDescription:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Quantum information applications in optical domain require the control of the optical field at a single photon level. This\u00a0course\u00a0covers single-photon,\u00a0entanglement,\u00a0other non-classical light sources, single-photon detectors, and\u00a0their practical use.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The single-photon technology is truly interdisciplinary and covers multiple fields, including optics, electronics, and fundamental physics.\u00a0Because\u00a0faint light\u00a0occurs in\u00a0diverse\u00a0practical\u00a0settings, from\u00a0fundamental physics to remote sensing\u00a0and\u00a0biology,\u00a0new\u00a0measurement methods for these light-emitting systems can be developed based on\u00a0light\u00a0characterization,\u00a0and often by merely counting\u00a0emitted\u00a0photons.\u00a0In addition, we will discuss the use of single-photons and entangled states for quantum networks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We will talk about different methods to generate single photon light and other nonclassical states, including entangled states.\u00a0Deterministic sources are\u00a0based on single quantum emitters such as a single atom,\u00a0a\u00a0single\u00a0molecule,\u00a0or a quantum dot. Probabilistic sources use optical\u00a0nonlinearities\u00a0and rely on parametric down-conversion and four-wave mixing.\u00a0Yet,\u00a0quantum memory-based\u00a0sources\u00a0may combine the probabilistic excitation with deterministic single photon emission.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We will review the characteristics of the ideal single photon state and learn how to characterize the state via a measurement. Traditionally, second-order correlation functions are used for characterization. Other methods may enhance our understanding of the state.\u00a0We will discuss practical examples where properties of the light field and even underlying physics of light emitters are uncovered via those measurements.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There exists a variety of single-photon detectors, from photomultiplier tubes to avalanche photodiodes and superconducting sensors.\u00a0Detectors, due to their complexity, cannot be simply described by\u00a0detection\u00a0efficiency. Other parameters, such as deadtime and\u00a0afterpulsing, play\u00a0an important role.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Single photons are a natural choice for quantum communication. Indeed, photons do not readily interact with atoms in transparent media. We will review basic quantum communication protocols, such as quantum key distribution, entanglement swapping, and quantum\u00a0teleportation\u00a0and their implementation in photonic networks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefits\u202fand\u202fLearning\u202fObjectives:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This course\u00a0is designed as an introduction to\u00a0practical quantum optics\u00a0and should help\u00a0participants to\u00a0obtain\u00a0basic working knowledge\u00a0that enables\u00a0their entry into the field. Specifically,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Recognize the\u00a0benefit\u00a0of single-photon sources and detectors for your own research. Find ideas to enhance their application(s).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    • Become knowledgeable of present and future\u00a0trends in single-photon research and quantum\u00a0optics\u00a0and\u00a0identify\u00a0own strategic goals in this field.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      • Learn\u00a0properties\u00a0of single-photon sources and detectors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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        • Obtain basic knowledge on components\u00a0for\u00a0photonic\u00a0quantum information applications and\u00a0quantum networks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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          • Develop a photon-counting-based application on a conceptual level.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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            • Learn the\u00a0proper way to understand measurement results with faint light states.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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              • Learn key statistical methods relevant to\u00a0faint light measurement and characterization.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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                Intended\u202fAudience:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Graduate students,\u00a0post-docs,\u00a0faculty, researchers,\u00a0and technical personnel in academia, industry, and\u00a0government labs\u00a0looking for an introduction in\u00a0practical quantum optics and\u00a0single-photon technology.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                The only requirement to\u00a0comprehend\u00a0and\u00a0benefit\u00a0from the course is an undergraduate\u00a0course in physics\/ applied physics\/electrical engineering covering the basics of optics.\u00a0An undergraduate course on quantum mechanics would be helpful, but optional.\u00a0The information\u00a0presented in this short course should also be useful to patent attorneys and legal professionals\u00a0who are\u00a0active in a single photon technology area.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                Instructor\u202fBiography:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

                Dr.\u202fSergey\u202fV. Polyakov<\/span>\u202f<\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span>Chief of the<\/span>\u00a0Quantum Measurement division, Physical Measurement Laboratory at NIST.\u00a0<\/span>He oversees a large set of efforts aimed at providing physical foundation for the SI system of units. Those projects span from fundamental efforts in quantum measurement to practical realization and dissemination of fundamental constants and units of measurement. His research experience<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is centered<\/span>\u00a0at developing quantum methods of characterization of faint light with applications ranging from classical and quantum networking to quantum-enabled\u00a0<\/span>biophotonics<\/span>.\u202fSergey\u202fcontributed to early research efforts in quantum repeaters. He developed innovative methods of single photon source characterization that leads to in-situ, non-invasive measurement of underlying physics of single-photon emitters. Recently, he invented and developed a new class of optical receivers for classical communications that use quantum measurement. He performed one of the most\u00a0<\/span>accurate<\/span>\u00a0single photon detector characterizations.\u202f\u202fSergey\u202fis a Fellow of the Optical Society of America and has served as a General Chair of\u00a0<\/span>CLEO<\/span>\u00a0conference (2021), and Nonlinear Photonics topical meeting (2022).\u202f<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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