Stable single-photon interference in a 1 km fiber-optic Mach–Zehnder interferometer with continuous phase adjustment

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate stable and user-adjustable single-photon interference in a $1\mathrm{km}$ long fiber-optic Mach–Zehnder interferometer, using an active phase control system with the feedback provided by a classical laser. We are able to continuously tune the single-photon phase difference between the interferometer arms using a phase modulator, which is synchronized with the gate window of the single-photon detectors. The phase control system employs a piezoelectric fiber stretcher to stabilize the phase drift in the interferometer. A single-photon net visibility of 0.97 is obtained, yielding future possibilities for experimental realizations of quantum repeaters in optical fibers and violation of Bell’s inequalities using genuine energy-time entanglement.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

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