Self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) containing a single electron are one of the leading candidate systems for the realization of a quantum computer. The spin states of charges confined in these dots have been shown to possess a number of qualities that are attractive for use as the quantum bits (qubits) in quantum computing implementations, particularly their long lifetimes and coherence times. In addition, these spin qubits may be controlled optically, offering the prospect of ultrafast qubit gate operations, a crucial necessity for the execution of quantum algorithms. Due to the weak interaction of self-assembled QDs with light, however, the coherent optical control and read-out of the spin states of charged self-assembled QDs has proven to be a considerable challenge. This thesis presents two sets of experiments demonstrating the coherent optical control and read-out of the quantum states of a self-assembled InAs QD containing a single electron. The first utilizes mode-locked picosecond optical pulses to control the optical transitions in the dot and to detect QD level occupations. These capabilities are used to observe transient phenomena in a singly charged InAs QD such as the generation and decay of excited state population and spin precession. Further, Rabi oscillations between the electron and the lowest-lying excited state are observed, demonstrating the ability to coherently control the optical transitions of the QD, a prerequisite for spin control. These results are built upon in the second set of experiments, in which a combination of optical pulses, an externally applied DC magnetic field and a continuous-wave (CW) optical field are employed to initialize and completely control the states of a QD confined electron spin. Spin control by the use of pulse-driven two-photon Raman processes, spin precession about the external magnetic field and geometric phases generated by CW-driven cyclic evolutions in the dot is demonstrated. A number of spin qubit gate operations are shown for these spin control mechanisms, forming a foundational set of single qubit gates required for the implementation of quantum computing with singly charged self-assembled QDs.
Self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) containing a single electron are one of the leading candidate systems for the realization of a quantum computer. The spin states of charges confined in these dots have been shown to possess a number of qualities that are attractive for use as the quantum bits (qubits) in quantum computing implementations, particularly their long lifetimes and coherence times. In addition, these spin qubits may be controlled optically, offering the prospect of ultrafast qubit gate operations, a crucial necessity for the execution of quantum algorithms. Due to the weak interaction of self-assembled QDs with light, however, the coherent optical control and read-out of the spin states of charged self-assembled QDs has proven to be a considerable challenge. This thesis presents two sets of experiments demonstrating the coherent optical control and read-out of the quantum states of a self-assembled InAs QD containing a single electron. The first utilizes mode-locked picosecond optical pulses to control the optical transitions in the dot and to detect QD level occupations. These capabilities are used to observe transient phenomena in a singly charged InAs QD such as the generation and decay of excited state population and spin precession. Further, Rabi oscillations between the electron and the lowest-lying excited state are observed, demonstrating the ability to coherently control the optical transitions of the QD, a prerequisite for spin control. These results are built upon in the second set of experiments, in which a combination of optical pulses, an externally applied DC magnetic field and a continuous-wave (CW) optical field are employed to initialize and completely control the states of a QD confined electron spin. Spin control by the use of pulse-driven two-photon Raman processes, spin precession about the external magnetic field and geometric phases generated by CW-driven cyclic evolutions in the dot is demonstrated. A number of spin qubit gate operations are shown for these spin control mechanisms, forming a foundational set of single qubit gates required for the implementation of quantum computing with singly charged self-assembled QDs.
Optically driven self-assembled quantum dots are leading candidates for use in quantum computers because of their potential for high speed gate operations and relatively compact design. In this approach, each dot is charged with a single electron whose spin serves as the quantum bit (qubit). This thesis addresses the need for a universal set of gates to physically implement quantum computing and discusses initial steps toward spin-photon entanglement. Both are addressed through coherent control of the spin state in a magnetic field with optical pulses. This work experimentally demonstrates coherent rotations of the electron spin. First, the electron spin is rotated at up to 0.5 terahertz about the optical axis by a detuned picosecond optical pulse. The rotation occurs via a nearly resonant stimulated spin-flip Raman process involving a negatively charged exciton (trion). Second, rotation about an orthogonal axis is demonstrated due to electron spin precession about the magnetic field between two detuned optical pulses. The magnitude of the electron g factor is measured to be 0.4, and the rotation speed is 30 gigahertz in a 6.6 Tesla field. Geometric phases are detected in quantum dots for the first time due to cyclic Rabi oscillations driven by a resonant continuous-wave laser. These geometric phases provide another method of spin rotation and can be used in a gate. Any combination of these methods that provides spin rotation about two orthogonal axes can form an arbitrary rotation and together with a phase gate can form any unitary single qubit gate. Finally, this thesis also presents a detailed experimental procedure for creating a partial entanglement of internal variables within a quantum dot spin-exciton system, as a preliminary step to spin-photon entanglement. It has been proposed that entanglement between non-adjacent qubits in a large qubit network could occur via a photon, fueling research to demonstrate spin-photon entanglement. The experiment proposed here will create the precursor state in 25 picoseconds with a predicted fidelity of 0.985, and the precursor superposition state has a theoretical entropy of entanglement of 0.92.
The ability to manipulate the spin states of charges confined in quantum dots (QDs) is essential for the realization of a quantum computer based on such spins. Here, we present experimentally realized electron spin qubit gates in a single self-assembled InAs QD using a combination of picosecond optical pulses, spin precession about an external DC magnetic field and optically generated geometric phases. Arbitrary unitary operations on the electron spin qubit may be constructed using a combination of optical pulses and either spin precession or the optically generated geometric phases.
Recent studies in self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) for applications in quantum information processing have demonstrated initialization, readout and long decoherence time of an electron spin confined in a single QD. These arguably fulfill three out of the five DiVincenzo criteria for the physical implementation of quantum computation. Based on recent developments self-assembled InAs quantum dot molecules (QDMs), several advancements in the optical manipulation of two-electron spin states have been made. As a continuation of these studies towards a full two-qubit system, this thesis addresses one of the remaining criteria concerning a universal set of quantum gates. The physical platform for two-qubit gates is provided by two electrons confined in the QDM where the Coulomb exchange interaction gives rise to the singlet and triplet manifolds. In a transverse magnetic field, an eight-level system consisting of four singlet-triplet spin states, four optical excited states and twelve dipole allowed transitions arises. Spin initialization via multi-laser optical pumping is demonstrated with near unity fidelity for three of the spin states, while the remaining one can, in principle, be achieved by coherent optical pumping using four CW lasers. The effects of dynamic nuclear spin polarization, arising from the coupling between the electrons and the surrounding nuclei, is evident in the frequency pulling and pushing lineshapes in absorption profiles. This thesis shows that the optical nuclear spin locking that was demonstrated in a single QD earlier is effective in QDMs, yielding a long spin decoherence time of about 1 microsecond. Spectroscopic evidence suggests that this is accompanied by the first evidence of a narrowing in the Overhauser field distribution. The results reveal that stabilization of nuclear spin polarization in both QDs is achieved by optical manipulations in the top QD, demonstrating the effect of non-local nuclear spin locking. Finally, it is shown theoretically that pulsed excitation results in single spin rotations and in conjunction with the Coulomb exchange interaction, provides the ingredients for a universal two-qubit gate. A feasible experimental demonstration of the two-qubit gate is proposed, along with the methodology for the population readout of individual spin states.
InAs quantum dots (QDs) can be used as optically coupled quantum storage devices for quantum information applications. The QD can be charged with a single electron, where the spin state (up or down) provides a long lived quantum bit (qubit). The QD's optically excited states are used to initialize, manipulate, and read out the electron spin state with laser pulses. However, most practical quantum information applications require many interacting qubits, forming a quantum network. Since QDs are based on semiconductor technology, and are compatible with standard nano-fabrication processing, there is promise that they can provide a solid state platform where a scalable quantum information architecture is realizable. We focus on scaling the QD system to multiple qubits using intermediate spin-photon entangled states. In this work, experimental and theoretical techniques are developed to study the QD-light matter interaction at the single photon level. Resonance fluorescence from a single QD is experimentally realized, and the single photon nature of the scattered radiation is verified through intensity correlation experiments. Transient fluorescence measurements on resonantly excited QDs are performed using time correlated single photon counting techniques to measure the excited state lifetime. High speed electro-optic modulators are used to time gate narrow bandwidth lasers, so that a QD can be driven under step-wise excitation, allowing for the direct observation of time-dependent optical Rabi oscillations. From these measurements, we are able to extract a decoherence rate which is consistent with the lifetime limit, indicating that pure dephasing is negligible in this system. These techniques are applied to the QD spin system to demonstrate a spin-photon entangled state, by performing correlation measurements on the spin and photon state in two bases. A lower bound on the entanglement fidelity of 0.59(4) is achieved, which exceeds the classical limit of 0.5 by more than two standard deviations. The entanglement fidelity is limited primarily by the finite timing resolution of available single photon detectors. Taking this into account, we achieve 84% of the apparatus limited fidelity. These spin-entangled photons can be used to mediate entanglement between distant QD spins, providing the basis of an optically coupled QD spin network.
Electron spins confined to self-assembled quantum dots are considered as nodes for a coherent optical network capable of supporting distributed quantum states. Through a series of experiments, the work contributing to this dissertation examines some of the key criteria for constructing such a network. First, the ability to optically extract a coherent spin state from the quantum dot without perturbing the nuclear environment is explored: nuclear feedback is an issue that has frustrated previous studies into electron spin coherence in these systems. With the novel techniques we develop, we identify and characterise the previously undetermined intrinsic mechanisms that govern the coherence of the central spin. We show how the coherence of the electron spin is intimately related to the growth of these strained nanostructures. Second, a model network is constructed in which two spins confined to separate quantum dots are projected into a highly entangled state. This is the first time electron spins in distant quantum dots have been entangled, and in doing so we demonstrate controllable entanglement generation at the highest rates recorded for optically accessible qubit definitions. We investigate the realisation of a hybrid quantum network by demonstrating the first interconnect between wholly different single quantum systems: a semiconductor quantum dot and a trapped ytterbium ion. In forming an optical link between these two complementary qubit definitions, we show that we can circumvent their intrinsic optical differences through coherent photon generation at the quantum dot. A network built from these diverse constituents could combine the ultrafast operations self-assembled quantum dots enable with the long coherence times states in trapped ions experience. Finally, in a step towards truly scalable entanglement generation between quantum dot spins, we design minimally invasive structures that will funnel large proportions of the optical dipole field from the optically dense material that surrounds the quantum dot. The techniques developed in this work and the knowledge gained from their operation should enable the demonstration the creation of high-order nonlocal states between quantum dot spins, single photons and trapped ions, as well as the development of new optically active systems that will benefit from enhanced spin coherence.
Coherent optically driven semiconductor quantum dot systems are proposed for the implementation of quantum information processing devices. Fundamental quantum computation units, the quantum bits (qubits), are realized and optically manipulated in the exciton and spin bases. In this thesis, consecutive phase-sensitive rotations of a single qubit and their importance in the measurement of the full physical density matrix have been demonstrated experimentally in the exciton system in neutral GaAs/Al0:3Ga0:7As interface fluctuation quantum dots. The experimental work done on the exciton system serves as a foundation for consequent work on the long coherence lifetime spin-based qubits in charged quantum dots. In the spin-based system in the charged GaAs/Al0:3Ga0:7As interface fluctuation quantum dots, we demonstrate the selective excitation from the two spin ground states to the charged exciton (trion) state through phase sensitive control of the spin coherence in an ensemble of three-level spin-trion Lambda systems. This controlled excitation utilized the optically coupled and decoupled states of the electron spin in the presence of coherent transient excitation of the spin ground states in singly charged quantum dots. This progress lays the ground work for achieving complete ultrafast spin rotations.