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arXiv:0912.0286 · Applied Physics Letters

Tuning micropillar cavity birefringence by laser induced surface defects

Cristian Bonato, Dapeng Ding, Jan Gudat, Susanna M. Thon, Hyochul Kim, Pierre M. Petroff, Martin P. van Exter, Dirk Bouwmeester

Published Dec 21, 2009• 27 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We demonstrate a technique to tune the optical properties of micropillar cavities by creating small defects on the sample surface near the cavity region with an intense focused laser beam. Such defects modify strain in the structure, changing the birefringence in a controllable way. We apply the technique to make the fundamental cavity mode polarization-degenerate and to fine tune the overall mode frequencies, as needed for applications in quantum information science.

DOI
10.1063/1.3276550

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We demonstrate a technique to tune the optical properties of micropillar cavities by creating small defects on the sample surface near the cavity region with an intense focused laser beam. Such defects modify strain in the structure, changing the birefringence in a controllable way. We apply the technique to make the fundamental cavity mode polarization-degenerate and to fine tune the overall mode frequencies, as needed for applications in quantum information science.
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We study the frequency splitting of the polarization eigenmodes of the fundamental transverse mode in CO 2 laser-machined, high-finesse optical Fabry–Perot cavities and investigate the influence of the geometry of the cavity mirrors. Their highly reflective surfaces are typically not rotationally symmetric but have slightly different radii of curvature along two principal axes. We observe that the eccentricity of such elliptical mirrors lifts the degeneracy of the polarization eigenmodes. The impact of the eccentricity increases for smaller radii of curvature. A model derived from corrections to the paraxial resonator theory is in excellent agreement with the measurements, showing that geometric effects are the main source of the frequency splitting of polarization modes for the type of microscopic cavity studied here. By rotating one of the mirrors around the cavity axis, the splitting can be tuned. In the case of an identical differential phase shift per mirror, it can even be eliminated, despite a nonvanishing eccentricity of each mirror. We expect our results to have important implications for many experiments in cavity quantum electrodynamics, where Fabry–Perot cavities with small mode volumes are required.
Abstract Hybrid quantum interfaces that combine the fast, deterministic single-photon emission of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with the long-lived quantum memories of atomic vapors represent a promising route towards scalable quantum networks and distributed quantum computing. However, the realization of such interfaces is fundamentally limited by the stringent spectral matching required between the narrow optical transitions of atomic systems and the intrinsically variable emission of QDs. Moreover, achieving bright QD emission requires integration into an efficient light-collecting structure. In this work, we present a systematic investigation of three tuning mechanisms for cavity-enhanced QDs embedded in micropillar cavities: thermal tuning, in situ laser processing, and nitrogen gas deposition. We experimentally evaluated the applicability of each method and characterized their tuning ranges and precisions. All three methods enable reliable and precise wavelength shifts, even for QDs in larger micropillars. These results provide practical strategies for achieving spectral resonance between QD emitters and atomic vapor lines, paving the way for tunable solid-state-atomic hybrid platforms for photon storage, synchronization, and interfacing in hybrid quantum systems.
Summary form only given. Quantum coherence phenomena offer a powerful method of controlling the optical properties of an atomic vapor, such as the absorption and refractive index. We demonstrate the use of quantum coherence to induce controllable birefringence in an atomic vapor and to thereby provide complete and efficient control over the polarization state of a probe laser beam propagating through the vapor. Quantum coherence has been previously observed to produce small polarization rotations, but these experiments suffered from significant absorption loss and produced rotations of at most a few degrees. Our experiments demonstrate the ability to induce linear or circular birefringence in an initially isotropic system that can be used to change the polarization state of a probe beam from linear to any desired polarization state with a total energy throughput greater than 97%.
This paper gives a detailed theoretical investigation on phase conjugation induced by nearly degenerate four-wave mixing in single mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) with weak optical injection. Considering VCSELs that can work in linearly polarized or elliptically polarized states, it derives the theoretical expression of the conjugated field by small signal analysis based on the vectoral rate equations—the spin-flip model. For linearly polarized state, VCSELs show similar conjugate spectra to edge-emitting semiconductor lasers. For the elliptically polarized state, dichroism and birefringence parameters as well as the spin-flip rate can change the conjugate spectra. Especially, when frequency detuning of the probe and pump waves is between the positive and negative relaxation oscillation frequency, changes are evident. For specific values of parameters, conjugate efficiency between 20dB to 40dB are obtained.