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Abstract We analytically describe the noise properties of a heralded electron source made from a standard electron gun, a weak photonic coupler, a single photon counter, and an electron energy filter. We describe the sub-Poissonian statistics of the source, the engineering requirements for efficient heralding, and several potential applications. We use simple models of electron beam processes to demonstrate advantages which are situational, but potentially significant in electron lithography and scanning electron microscopy. 

Linking superconducting quantum devices to optical fibers via microwave-optical quantum transducers may enable large-scale quantum networks. For this application, transducers based on the Pockels electro-optic (EO) effect are promising for their direct conversion mechanism, high bandwidth, and potential for low-noise operation. However, previously demonstrated EO transducers require large optical pump power to overcome weak EO coupling and reach high efficiency. Here, we create an EO transducer in thin-film lithium niobate, a platform that provides low optical loss and strong EO coupling. We demonstrate on-chip transduction efficiencies of up toandof optical pump power. The transduction efficiency can be improved by further reducing the microwave resonator’s piezoelectric coupling to acoustic modes, increasing the optical resonator quality factor to previously demonstrated levels, and changing the electrode geometry for enhanced EO coupling. We expect that with further development, EO transducers in thin-film lithium niobate can achieve near-unity efficiency with low optical pump power.