Quantum-correlated photon pair generation in chalcogenide As2S3 waveguides

We theoretically investigate the generation of quantum-correlated photon pairs through spontaneous four-wave mixing in chalcogenide As2S3 waveguides. For reasonable pump power levels, we show that such photonic-chip-based photon-pair sources can exhibit high brightness (approximate to 1 x 10(9) pairs/s) and high correlation (approximate to 100) if the waveguide length is chosen properly or the waveguide dispersion is engineered. Such a high correlation is possible in the presence of Raman scattering because the Raman profile exhibits a low gain window at a Stokes shift of 7.4 THz, though it is constrained due to multi-pair generation. As the proposed scheme is based on photonic chip technologies, it has the potential to become an integrated platform for the implementation of on-chip quantum technologies. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America