The controlled generation of non-classical states of light is a challenging task at the heart of quantum optics. Aside from the mere spirit of science, the related research is strongly driven by applications in photonic quantum technologies, including the fields of quantum communication, quantum computation, and quantum metrology. In this context, the realization of integrated solid-state-based quantum-light sources is of particular interest, due to the prospects for scalability and device integration. This topical review focuses on solid-state quantum-light sources which are fabricated in a deterministic fashion. In this framework we cover quantum emitters represented by semiconductor quantum dots, colour centres in diamond, and defect-/strain-centres in two-dimensional materials. First, we introduce the topic of quantum-light sources and non-classical light generation for applications in photonic quantum technologies, motivating the need for the development of scalable device technologies to push the field towards real-world applications. In the second part, we summarize material systems hosting quantum emitters in the solid-state. The third part reviews deterministic fabrication techniques and comparatively discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The techniques are classified in bottom-up approaches, exploiting the site-controlled positioning of the quantum emitters themselves, and top-down approaches, allowing for the precise alignment of photonic microstructures to pre-selected quantum emitters. Special emphasis is put on the progress achieved in the development of in situ techniques, which significantly pushed the performance of quantum-light sources towards applications. Additionally, we discuss hybrid approaches, exploiting pick-and-place techniques or wafer-bonding. The fourth part presents state-of-the-art quantum-dot quantum-light sources based on the fabrication techniques presented in the previous sections, which feature engineered functionality and enhanced photon collection efficiency. The article closes by highlighting recent applications of deterministic solid-state-based quantum-light sources in the fields of quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum metrology, and by discussing future perspectives in the field of solid-state quantum-light sources.
The controlled generation of non-classical states of light is a challenging task at the heart of quantum optics. Aside from the mere spirit of science, the related research is strongly driven by applications in photonic quantum technologies, including the fields of quantum communication, quantum computation, and quantum metrology. In this context, the realization of integrated solid-state-based quantum-light sources is of particular interest, due to the prospects for scalability and device integration. This topical review focuses on solid-state quantum-light sources which are fabricated in a deterministic fashion. In this framework we cover quantum emitters represented by semiconductor quantum dots, colour centres in diamond, and defect-/strain-centres in two-dimensional materials. First, we introduce the topic of quantum-light sources and non-classical light generation for applications in photonic quantum technologies, motivating the need for the development of scalable device technologies to push the field towards real-world applications. In the second part, we summarize material systems hosting quantum emitters in the solid-state. The third part reviews deterministic fabrication techniques and comparatively discusses their advantages and disadvantages. The techniques are classified in bottom-up approaches, exploiting the site-controlled positioning of the quantum emitters themselves, and top-down approaches, allowing for the precise alignment of photonic microstructures to pre-selected quantum emitters. Special emphasis is put on the progress achieved in the development of in situ techniques, which significantly pushed the performance of quantum-light sources towards applications. Additionally, we discuss hybrid approaches, exploiting pick-and-place techniques or wafer-bonding. The fourth part presents state-of-the-art quantum-dot quantum-light sources based on the fabrication techniques presented in the previous sections, which feature engineered functionality and enhanced photon collection efficiency. The article closes by highlighting recent applications of deterministic solid-state-based quantum-light sources in the fields of quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum metrology, and by discussing future perspectives in the field of solid-state quantum-light sources.
Quantum emitters serve as essential on-demand photonic resources, generating quantum states of light such as single photons and entangled photon pairs while serving as interfaces between light and matter. Buried in the solid state, quantum emitters enable a straightforward adoption of advanced nanofabrication techniques, facilitating precise engineering of their photonic environment for scalable quantum technologies. In this review, we introduce the fundamentals of quantum emitters and the key metrics characterising their performance. We highlight three material platforms: quantum dots, defect centres in diamond, and defect centres in silicon carbide. We summarise the recent developments of these platforms and discuss their advancements in quantum applications, including quantum communication, computation, and sensing. Finally, we provide a comparison across the three platforms, along with an outlook on future directions and potential challenges.
Quantum light sources are essential building blocks for many quantum technologies, enabling secure communication, powerful computing, and precise sensing and imaging. Recent advancements have witnessed a significant shift toward the utilization of "flat" optics with thickness at subwavelength scales for the development of quantum light sources. This approach offers notable advantages over conventional bulky counterparts, including compactness, scalability, and improved efficiency, along with added functionalities. This review focuses on the recent advances in leveraging flat optics to generate quantum light sources. Specifically, the generation of entangled photon pairs through spontaneous parametric down-conversion in nonlinear metasurfaces, and single photon emission from quantum emitters including quantum dots and color centers in 3D and 2D materials are explored. The review covers theoretical principles, fabrication techniques, and properties of these sources, with particular emphasis on the enhanced generation and engineering of quantum light sources using optical resonances supported by nanostructures. The diverse application range of these sources is discussed and the current challenges and perspectives in the field are highlighted.
ABSTRACT Integrated quantum photonics is rapidly emerging as a transformative platform for realizing scalable, chip‐based quantum technologies, from secure communication to advanced sensing and computing. At the heart of this revolution are solid‐state quantum emitters: atom‐like light sources embedded in a variety of host materials that enable single‐photon generation, quantum interference, and spin–photon coupling. We begin by discussing quantum emitters across bulk crystals, van der Waals materials, and chemically synthesized nanostructures, highlighting their performance trade‐offs and integration potential. We then examine nanophotonic cavities that enhance the light‐matter interaction, from photonic crystals to metasurfaces and Moiré resonators. Next, we discuss fabrication techniques with sub‐10 nm precision, including material‐specific etching strategies and hybrid integration schemes. Finally, we address emerging approaches for deterministic placement, cavity tuning, and on‐chip scalability. By bringing together insights from materials science, nanofabrication, and quantum optics, this Review provides a comprehensive perspective on the design and integration of high‐performance quantum emitters for scalable photonic platforms.
Semiconductor provides a physics-rich environment to host various quantum light sources applicable for quantum information processing. These light sources are capable of deterministic generation of non-classical photon streams that demonstrate antibunching photon statistics, strong indistinguishability, and high-fidelity entanglement. Some of them have even successfully transitioned from proof-of-concept to engineering efforts with steadily improving performance [ 1 ] . Here, we briefly summarize recent efforts and progress in the race towards ideal quantum light sources based on semiconductor materials. The focus of this report will be on group III–V semiconductor quantum dots, defects in wide band-gap materials, emitters in two-dimensional van der Waals layered hosts, and carbon nanotubes, as these systems are well-positioned to benefit from recent breakthroughs in nanofabrication and materials growth techniques.
Deterministically integrating single solid-state quantum emitters with photonic nanostructures serves as a key enabling resource in the context of photonic quantum technology. Due to the random spatial location of many widely-used solid-state quantum emitters, a number of positoning approaches for locating the quantum emitters before nanofabrication have been explored in the last decade. Here, we review the working principles of several nanoscale positioning methods and the most recent progress in this field, covering techniques including atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy with \textit{in situ} lithography, and wide-field fluorescence imaging. A selection of representative device demonstrations with high-performance is presented, including high-quality single-photon sources, bright entangled-photon pairs, strongly-coupled cavity QED systems, and other emerging applications. The challenges in applying positioning techniques to different material systems and opportunities for using these approaches for realizing large-scale quantum photonic devices are discussed.
Abstract Photonic quantum technology is essentially based on the exchange of individual photons as information carriers. Therefore, the development of practical single-photon sources that emit single photons on-demand is a crucial contribution to advance this emerging technology and to promote its first real-world applications. In the last two decades, a large number of quantum light sources based on solid-state emitters have been developed on a laboratory scale. Corresponding structures today have almost ideal optical and quantum-optical properties. For practical applications, however, one crucial factor is usually missing, namely direct on-chip fiber coupling, which is essential, for example, for the direct integration of such quantum devices into fiber-based quantum networks. In fact, the development of fiber-coupled quantum light sources is still in its infancy, with very promising advances having been made in recent years. Against this background, this review article presents the current status of the development of fiber-coupled quantum light sources based on solid-state quantum emitters and discusses challenges, technological solutions and future prospects. Among other things, the numerical optimization of the fiber coupling efficiency, coupling methods, and important realizations of such quantum devices are presented and compared. Overall, this article provides an important overview of the state-of-the-art and the performance parameters of fiber-coupled quantum light sources that have been achieved so far. It is aimed equally at experts in the scientific field and at students and newcomers who want to get an overview of the current developments.