Question about SPDC (Making entangled photons)

[Xyius]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about the process of spontaneous parametric down conversion (or SPDC). This process is used to create two entangled photons in the visible regime by shining a laser through a beta-barium borate (BBO) nonlinear crystal.

My question is, can this process be done at ANY wavelength in the visible regime? Or is the wavelength specific to the crystal?

So for example, say I wanted two photons at 800 nm. Does this mean I should choose a 400 nm laser to shine through the crystal so it splits into two 800 nm photons? Do I have the choice of wavelength (within the boundaries of the visible regime)?

 

[UltrafastPED]

Your setup will be for a specific laser line; the BBO crystal needs to be cut for your wavelength, and ditto for wave plates.

But the BBO crystals can function over a broad range.