We demonstrate the importance and utility of Monte Carlo simulation of single-photon detectors. Devising an optimal simulation is strongly influenced by the particular application because of the complexity of modern, avalanche-diode based single-photon detectors. Using a simple yet very demanding example of random number generation via detection of Poissonian photons exiting a beam splitter, we present a Monte Carlo simulation that faithfully reproduces the serial autocorrelation of random bits as a function of detection frequency over four orders of magnitude of the incident photon flux. We conjecture that this simulation approach can be easily modified for use in many other applications.

Date Published: 29 May 2013
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 8727, Advanced Photon Counting Techniques VII, 87270K (29 May 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2021577

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8727:
Advanced Photon Counting Techniques VII
Mark A. Itzler; Joe C. Campbell, Editor(s)