Narrowband single photons that couple well to atomic ensembles could prove essential for future quantum networks, but the efficient generation of such photons remains an outstanding challenge. We realize a spatially-multiplexed heralded source of single photons that are inherently compatible with the commonly employed D2 line of rubidium. Our source is based on four-wave mixing in hot rubidium vapor, requiring no laser cooling or optical cavities, and generates single photons with high rate and low noise. We use Hong-Ou-Mandel interference to verify the indistinguishability of the photons generated in two different (multiplexed) channels. We further demonstrate a five-fold tunability of the photons' temporal width. The experimental results are well reproduced by a theoretical model.
@article{arxiv.2104.09337,
title = {Bright multiplexed source of indistinguishable single photons with tunable GHz-bandwidth at room temperature},
author = {Omri Davidson and Ran Finkelstein and Eilon Poem and Ofer Firstenberg},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2104.09337},
year = {2021}
}