Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2411.19222 · Optics Letters

Stimulated downconversion of single-photon emission in a quantum dot placed in a target-frequency microcavity

Igor V. Krainov, Maxim V. Rakhlin, A. I. Veretennikov, T. V. Shubina

Published Mar 17, 2025• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We propose efficient frequency-tunable single-photon sources using stimulated frequency downconversion occurring directly in the quantum dot (QD) inside a microcavity. This microcavity should be designed not for the exciton frequency in the QD but for the target frequency that is set by the difference between the exciton resonance and the stimulating laser energies. This frequency downconversion arises from the second-order nonlinear interaction of an exciton (bright or dark) and a light-hole exciton in the stimulating laser field. We present an analytical model for such a process and evaluate its efficiency for a widely sought-after single-photon source for the C-band telecommunications.

DOI
10.1364/ol.550898

Related papers

A bright source of telecom single photons based on quantum frequency conversion

Christopher L. Morrison, Markus Rambach, Zhe Xian Koong +10 more

On-demand indistinguishable single-photon sources are essential for quantum networking and communication. Semiconductor quantum dots are among the most promising candidates, but their typical emission wavelength renders them unsuitable for use in fiber networks. Here, we present quantum frequency conversion of near-infrared photons from a bright quantum dot to the telecommunication C-band, allowing integration with existing fiber architectures. We use a custom-built, tunable 2400 nm seed laser to convert single photons from 942 nm to 1550 nm in a difference-frequency generation process. We achieve an end-to-end conversion efficiency of ≃35%, demonstrate count rates approaching 1 MHz at 1550 nm with g(2)(0)=0.043(1), and achieve Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) visibilities of 60%. We expect this scheme to be preferable to quantum dot sources directly emitting at telecom wavelengths for fiber-based quantum networking.

arXiv:2101.11640•Applied Physics Letters•Apr 26, 2021•40 citations

A quantum dot in a microcavity as a bright source of coherent single photons

Natasha Tomm

A single photon source is an enabling technology in device-independent quantum communication, quantum simulation, linear optics-based and measurement-based quantum computing. These applications employ many photons and place stringent requirements on the efficiency of single photon creation. The scaling on efficiency is typically an exponential function of the number of photons. Schemes taking full advantage of quantum superposition also depend sensitively on the coherence of the photons, i.e. their indistinguishability. \nThis thesis reports a single-photon source with a high end-to-end efficiency. We employ gated quantum dots in an open, tunable microcavity. The gating provides control of the charge and electrical tuning of the emission frequency, the high-quality material and careful design of the system ensures low noise, and the tunability of the microcavity compensates for the lack of control in quantum dot position and emission frequency. Transmission through the top mirror is the dominant escape route for photons from the microcavity, and this output is well-matched to a single-mode fiber. With this design, we can create a single photon at the output of the final optical fiber on-demand with a probability of 57% and with an average two-photon interference visibility of 97.5%. Coherence persists in trains of thousands of photons with single photon creation at a repetition rate of 1 GHz.

•Jan 1, 2021•0 citations

All-optical tailoring of single-photon spectra in a quantum-dot microcavity system

Dominik Breddermann, Dirk Heinze, Rolf H. Binder +2 more

Semiconductor quantum-dot cavity systems are promising sources for solid-state-based on-demand generation of single photons for quantum communication. Commonly, the spectral characteristics of the emitted single photon are fixed by system properties such as electronic transition energies and spectral properties of the cavity. In the present work we study cavity-enhanced single-photon generation from the quantum-dot biexciton through a partly stimulated nondegenerate two-photon emission. We show that frequency and linewidth of the single photon can be fully controlled by the stimulating laser pulse, ultimately allowing for efficient all-optical spectral shaping of the single photon.

arXiv:1605.01255•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Oct 24, 2016•7 citations

Entangled-photon generation from a quantum dot in a microcavity through pulsed laser irradiation

Kazunori Shibata, Hiroshi Ajiki

We theoretically investigate fast and highly efficient entangled-photon generation by irradiating a quantum dot (QD) embedded in a microcavity with short laser pulses. We evaluate the optimized width and field strength of the pulses for achieving a high population of an excited state as an entangled-photon source. We also calculate the emission time of the entangled photon pair as a function of the cavity quality factor $Q$. The shortest emission time reaches $3/(4g)$ under the condition $Q={\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}/(4g)$, where $g$ is the coupling frequency between the cavity photon and excited states of the QD and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$ is the excitation frequency of the QD. The QD-cavity system has a potential for fast and efficient generation of high-quality entangled-photon pairs.

Physical Review A•Apr 22, 2014•3 citations

Highly efficient two-photon generation from a coherently pumped quantum dot embedded in a microcavity

Jitendra K. Verma, Pradyumna K. Pathak

We propose two schemes to realize a highly efficient solid-state source of photon pairs using four-wave mixing and stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in a single quantum dot embedded in a microcavity. A resonant continuous-wave laser applied between biexciton and exciton states and a pulsed laser applied between a ground state and exciton state are utilized to facilitate coherent pumping. We show in the case of four-wave mixing that, although the probability of generating two photons in a cavity mode is small without cavity damping, two-photon-resonant emission is enhanced by cavity damping within the strong-coupling regime. For strong continuous-wave laser, a single photon from a pulsed laser and two-photon-resonant transition through a strongly coupled cavity mode lead to a (1+2)-type Raman transition through the generated Autler-Townes doublet. We also discuss the spectrum of the generated photon pair and the photon-photon correlations in the generated photon pair.

arXiv:1602.01562•Physical review. B./Physical review. B•Aug 29, 2016•9 citations

Broad-band spectral control of single photon sources using a nonlinear photonic crystal cavity

Murray W. McCutcheon, Darrick E. Chang, Yinan Zhang +2 more

Motivated by developments in quantum information science, much recent effort has been directed toward coupling individual quantum emitters to optical microcavities. Such systems can be used to produce single photons on demand, enable nonlinear optical switching at a single photon level, and implement functional nodes of a quantum network, where the emitters serve as processing nodes and photons are used for long-distance quantum communication. For many of these practical applications, it is important to develop techniques that allow one to generate outgoing single photons of desired frequency and bandwidth, enabling hybrid networks connecting different types of emitters and long-distance transmission over telecommunications wavelengths. Here, we propose a novel approach that makes use of a nonlinear optical resonator, in which the single photon originating from the atom-like emitter is directly converted into a photon with desired frequency and bandwidth using the intracavity nonlinearity. As specific examples, we discuss a high-finesse, TE-TM double-mode photonic crystal cavity design that allows for direct generation of single photons at telecom wavelengths starting from an InAs/GaAs quantum dot with a 950 nm transition wavelength, and a scheme for direct optical coupling of such a quantum dot with a diamond nitrogen-vacancy center at 637 nm.

arXiv:0903.4706•Mar 26, 2009•9 citations
We propose efficient frequency-tunable single-photon sources using stimulated frequency downconversion occurring directly in the quantum dot (QD) inside a microcavity. This microcavity should be designed not for the exciton frequency in the QD but for the target frequency that is set by the difference between the exciton resonance and the stimulating laser energies. This frequency downconversion arises from the second-order nonlinear interaction of an exciton (bright or dark) and a light-hole exciton in the stimulating laser field. We present an analytical model for such a process and evaluate its efficiency for a widely sought-after single-photon source for the C-band telecommunications.
On-demand indistinguishable single-photon sources are essential for quantum networking and communication. Semiconductor quantum dots are among the most promising candidates, but their typical emission wavelength renders them unsuitable for use in fiber networks. Here, we present quantum frequency conversion of near-infrared photons from a bright quantum dot to the telecommunication C-band, allowing integration with existing fiber architectures. We use a custom-built, tunable 2400 nm seed laser to convert single photons from 942 nm to 1550 nm in a difference-frequency generation process. We achieve an end-to-end conversion efficiency of ≃35%, demonstrate count rates approaching 1 MHz at 1550 nm with g(2)(0)=0.043(1), and achieve Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) visibilities of 60%. We expect this scheme to be preferable to quantum dot sources directly emitting at telecom wavelengths for fiber-based quantum networking.
A single photon source is an enabling technology in device-independent quantum communication, quantum simulation, linear optics-based and measurement-based quantum computing. These applications employ many photons and place stringent requirements on the efficiency of single photon creation. The scaling on efficiency is typically an exponential function of the number of photons. Schemes taking full advantage of quantum superposition also depend sensitively on the coherence of the photons, i.e. their indistinguishability. \nThis thesis reports a single-photon source with a high end-to-end efficiency. We employ gated quantum dots in an open, tunable microcavity. The gating provides control of the charge and electrical tuning of the emission frequency, the high-quality material and careful design of the system ensures low noise, and the tunability of the microcavity compensates for the lack of control in quantum dot position and emission frequency. Transmission through the top mirror is the dominant escape route for photons from the microcavity, and this output is well-matched to a single-mode fiber. With this design, we can create a single photon at the output of the final optical fiber on-demand with a probability of 57% and with an average two-photon interference visibility of 97.5%. Coherence persists in trains of thousands of photons with single photon creation at a repetition rate of 1 GHz.
Semiconductor quantum-dot cavity systems are promising sources for solid-state-based on-demand generation of single photons for quantum communication. Commonly, the spectral characteristics of the emitted single photon are fixed by system properties such as electronic transition energies and spectral properties of the cavity. In the present work we study cavity-enhanced single-photon generation from the quantum-dot biexciton through a partly stimulated nondegenerate two-photon emission. We show that frequency and linewidth of the single photon can be fully controlled by the stimulating laser pulse, ultimately allowing for efficient all-optical spectral shaping of the single photon.
We theoretically investigate fast and highly efficient entangled-photon generation by irradiating a quantum dot (QD) embedded in a microcavity with short laser pulses. We evaluate the optimized width and field strength of the pulses for achieving a high population of an excited state as an entangled-photon source. We also calculate the emission time of the entangled photon pair as a function of the cavity quality factor QQQ. The shortest emission time reaches 3/(4g)3/(4g)3/(4g) under the condition $Q={\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}/(4g)$, where ggg is the coupling frequency between the cavity photon and excited states of the QD and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{0}$ is the excitation frequency of the QD. The QD-cavity system has a potential for fast and efficient generation of high-quality entangled-photon pairs.
We propose two schemes to realize a highly efficient solid-state source of photon pairs using four-wave mixing and stimulated Raman adiabatic passage in a single quantum dot embedded in a microcavity. A resonant continuous-wave laser applied between biexciton and exciton states and a pulsed laser applied between a ground state and exciton state are utilized to facilitate coherent pumping. We show in the case of four-wave mixing that, although the probability of generating two photons in a cavity mode is small without cavity damping, two-photon-resonant emission is enhanced by cavity damping within the strong-coupling regime. For strong continuous-wave laser, a single photon from a pulsed laser and two-photon-resonant transition through a strongly coupled cavity mode lead to a (1+2)-type Raman transition through the generated Autler-Townes doublet. We also discuss the spectrum of the generated photon pair and the photon-photon correlations in the generated photon pair.
Motivated by developments in quantum information science, much recent effort has been directed toward coupling individual quantum emitters to optical microcavities. Such systems can be used to produce single photons on demand, enable nonlinear optical switching at a single photon level, and implement functional nodes of a quantum network, where the emitters serve as processing nodes and photons are used for long-distance quantum communication. For many of these practical applications, it is important to develop techniques that allow one to generate outgoing single photons of desired frequency and bandwidth, enabling hybrid networks connecting different types of emitters and long-distance transmission over telecommunications wavelengths. Here, we propose a novel approach that makes use of a nonlinear optical resonator, in which the single photon originating from the atom-like emitter is directly converted into a photon with desired frequency and bandwidth using the intracavity nonlinearity. As specific examples, we discuss a high-finesse, TE-TM double-mode photonic crystal cavity design that allows for direct generation of single photons at telecom wavelengths starting from an InAs/GaAs quantum dot with a 950 nm transition wavelength, and a scheme for direct optical coupling of such a quantum dot with a diamond nitrogen-vacancy center at 637 nm.