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AIP conference proceedings

Dynamics of a pulsed single photon source

Sergey Vladimirovich Polyakov, Edward B. Flagg, Tim O. Thomay, Glenn S. Solomon

Published Jan 1, 2012• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We propose and demonstrate a method for an independent verification of a degree of single photon purity and coherence applicable for all single-photon emitters used in pulsed mode. Using two-time second-order correlation measurements, we reconstruct the dynamics of the nonclassical photon wavepacket. This reveals the temporal evolution of the photon field during the excitation-relaxation cycle of an emitter. The technique allows for the simultaneous measurement of multiphoton content and decoherence. Here we applied this technique to characterize a nonclassical state produced from a single InAs quantum dot (QD). We experimentally observe variations in the degree of multiphoton content and coherence of the wavepacket. A rate equation is introduced to explain multiphoton variations of our source and is found to describe the observed two-dimensional second-order correlation function accurately.

DOI
10.1063/1.4773117

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We propose and demonstrate a method for an independent verification of a degree of single photon purity and coherence applicable for all single-photon emitters used in pulsed mode. Using two-time second-order correlation measurements, we reconstruct the dynamics of the nonclassical photon wavepacket. This reveals the temporal evolution of the photon field during the excitation-relaxation cycle of an emitter. The technique allows for the simultaneous measurement of multiphoton content and decoherence. Here we applied this technique to characterize a nonclassical state produced from a single InAs quantum dot (QD). We experimentally observe variations in the degree of multiphoton content and coherence of the wavepacket. A rate equation is introduced to explain multiphoton variations of our source and is found to describe the observed two-dimensional second-order correlation function accurately.
We measure the dynamics of a nonclassical optical field using two-time second-order correlations in conjunction with pulsed excitation. The technique quantifies single-photon purity and coherence during the excitation-decay cycle of an emitter, illustrated here using a quantum dot. We observe that for certain pump wavelengths, photons detected early in the cycle have reduced single-photon purity and coherence compared to those detected later. A model indicates that the single-photon purity dynamics are due to exciton recapture after initial emission and within the same pulse cycle.
Single-photon sources are at the heart of quantum-optical networks, with their uniquely quantum emission and phenomenon of two-photon interference allowing for the generation and transfer of nonclassical states. Although a few analytical methods have been briefly investigated for describing pulsed single-photon sources, these methods apply only to either perfectly ideal or at least extremely idealized sources. Here, we present the first complete picture of pulsed single-photon sources by elaborating how to numerically and fully characterize non-ideal single-photon sources operating in a pulsed regime. In order to achieve this result, we make the connection between quantum Monte-Carlo simulations, experimental characterizations, and an extended form of the quantum regression theorem. We elaborate on how an ideal pulsed single-photon source is connected to its photocount distribution and its measured degree of second- and first-order optical coherence. By doing so, we provide a description of the relationship between instantaneous source correlations and the typical experimental interferometers (Hanbury-Brown and Twiss, Hong–Ou–Mandel, and Mach–Zehnder) used to characterize such sources. Then, we use these techniques to explore several prototypical quantum systems and their non-ideal behaviors. As an example numerical result, we show that for the most popular single-photon source—a resonantly excited two-level system—its error probability is directly related to its excitation pulse length. We believe that the intuition gained from these representative systems and characters can be used to interpret future results with more complicated source Hamiltonians and behaviors. Finally, we have thoroughly documented our simulation methods with contributions to the Quantum Optics Toolbox in Python in order to make our work easily accessible to other scientists and engineers.
We report a comprehensive investigation of carrier-transfer dynamics in a single InAs quantum dot (QD) based on second-order photon correlation measurements. The experimentally obtained auto and crosscorrelation functions as well as photoluminescence intensities are successfully explained on the basis of a series of rate equations with common excitation and also single-carrier-capture/escape rates to/from a QD. This approach enables us to understand the carrier-transfer dynamics responsible for the stability of a quantum two-level system formed in a single QD under various excitation conditions. We clarify that the transition between neutral and charged excitonic states is suppressed by one order of magnitude under quasiresonant excitation.
Resonance fluorescence of natural or artificial atoms constitutes a prime method for generating non-classical light. While most efforts have focused on producing single photons, multi-photon emission is unavoidably present in the resonant driving of an atom. Here, we study the extent to which these processes occur: we quantify the multi-photon emission statistics in a resonantly driven two-level artificial atom—a semiconductor quantum dot in a micropillar cavity—when pumped by short optical pulses. By measuring auto-correlation functions up to the fourth order, we observe up to four photons emitted after a single pumping pulse and investigate the emission dynamics with finely resolved temporal measurements. Furthermore, we propose a method based on acquisition time gating to enhance the purity of a single-photon source while maintaining high efficiencies. Our results deepen the understanding of the photon emission processes in coherently driven atomic systems and suggest a simple but effective technique to reduce the multi-photon components of a single-photon source.
The photon correlation of photon emission from a single quantum dot with cw excitation and pulsed excitation is investigated in details. To calculate the second-order correlation function for optical pumping, we deduce rate equations with a simplified two-level model under cw excitation and present the master equation approach in the interaction picture to the study of evolution of a three-level system under pulsed excitation. In addition, we report photon correlation measurements on a single self-assembled In 0.5 Ga 0.5 As quantum dot, which show strong antibunching behaviour under both the conditions of cw and pulsed excitations. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental measurements.
We investigate the intensity correlation properties of single photons emitted from an optically excited single semiconductor quantum dot. The second order temporal coherence function of the photons emitted at various wavelengths is measured as a function of the excitation power. We show experimentally and theoretically that a quantum dot is not only a source of nonclassically correlated monochromatic photons but is also a source of multicolor photons with tunable correlation properties. We found that the emitted photon statistics can be varied by the excitation rate from a sub-Poissonian one, where the photons are temporally antibunched, to super-Poissonian, where they are temporally bunched.