  Current sources of heralded single photons based on nonlinear optics operate
in a probabilistic manner. In order to build quantum-enhanced devices based
around the use of single photons, compact, turn-key and deterministic sources
are required. A possible solution is to multiplex a number of sources to
increase the single-photon generation probability and in so doing reducing the
waiting time to deliver large numbers of photons simultaneously, from
independent sources. Previously it has been shown that, in the ideal case, 17
multiplexed sources allow deterministic generation of heralded single photons
[Christ and Silberhorn, Phys. Rev. A 85, 023829 (2012)]. Here we extend this
analysis to include undesirable effects of detector inefficiency and photon
loss on a number of multiplexed sources using a variety of different detectors
for heralding. We compare these systems for fixed signal-to-noise ratio to
allow a direct comparison of performance for real- world heralded single photon
sources.

Quantum Physics