A single photon source with high repeatability and low uncertainties is the key element for few-photon metrology based on photon numbers. While low photon number fluctuations and high repeatability are important figures for qualification as a standar
d light source, these characteristics are limited in single photon emitters by some malicious phenomena like blinking or internal relaxations to varying degrees in different materials. This study seeks to characterize photon number fluctuations and repeatability for radiometry applications at room temperature. For generality in this study, we collected photon statistics data with various single photon emitters of $g^{(2)}(0) < 1$ at low excitation power and room temperature in three material platforms: silicon vacancy in diamond, defects in GaN, and vacancy in hBN. We found common factors related with the relaxation times of the internal states that indirectly affect photon number stability. We observed a high stability of photon number with defects in GaN due to faster relaxations compared with vacancies in hBN, which on the other hand produced high rates ($> 10^6$) of photons per second. Finally, we demonstrate repeatable radiant flux measurements of a bright hBN single photon emitter for a wide radiant flux range from a few tens of femtowatts to one picowatt.
Apparatus for fluorescence-based single photon generation includes collection optics and various setups for characterization. Managing this system often reveals complexity in such a way that adjusting in a small region changes optimal alignments of o
thers. We suggest here a modular system, where the optimal alignment is given to each compartment and tested independently. Based on this concept, we built a system for single photon generation with fluorescence center in hexagonal boron nitride nano-flake, advantageous for scaling up the number of single mode fiber output and a high degree of stability. The system allowed for a practical use of single photon stream extended over an hour with a uniform count rate of small fluctuation levels.
